| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08353645B1 |
Counterbore bit
A counterbore bit having a blade with paired cutting edges along the distal end of the blade and a circular pilot with a serrated cutting edge positioned medially between the paired cutting edges can be positioned over an embedded nail or fastener and activated to free or clear the embedded nail by creating a pair of concentric bores around and about the nail thus facilitating its extraction by conventional means. |
| US08353643B2 |
Method and apparatus for elevating a marine platform
A method of elevating the deck area of a marine platform (e.g., oil and gas well drilling or production platform) utilizes a specially configured sleeve support to support the platform legs so that they can be cut. Once cut, rams or jacks elevate the platform above the cuts. The sleeve support is then connected (e.g., welded) to the platform leg and becomes part of the structural support for the platform. In one embodiment, two sleeves are employed. In another embodiment, the jacks or rams elevate in two stages including a first stage wherein one sleeve elevates and the other sleeve does not elevate and a second stage wherein both sleeves elevate together. |
| US08353642B2 |
Screed for road finishing machine
In a screed with a basic screed and at least one extendable screed movable relative to the basic screed with a hydraulic cylinder and an electro-hydraulic control comprising a magnet-actuated directional control valve for at least controlling the direction of the hydraulic cylinder, the directional control valve for changing the rate of motion of the hydraulic cylinder is guided by an operator or automatically and is a proportional directional control valve (W) with proportional-electric direct actuation or proportional-electric-hydraulic pilot control. The proportional directional control valve for the hydraulic cylinder is connected on the actuation side with an electro-hydraulic control of a hydraulic system of the road finishing machine. |
| US08353638B2 |
Adapter for mounting rotary load on motor flywheel housing
An adapter for fitting a flywheel housing to a rotary load has a generally circular centering plate having a central circular aperture dimensioned to fit snugly around the load's collar and a circular outer periphery. The centering plate is formed with first and second arrays of holes equispaced from a center of the aperture. The first-array holes are spaced identically to and alignable with fastening formations of the load. An adapter plate engaged flatly with the centering plate is formed with a first array of at least two holes spaced identically to and alignable with the formations, and is stiffened. Respective fasteners are engageable, when the first-array holes of both plates are aligned with the formations of the load, through the adapter plate, centering plate, and fastener formations. The second-array holes of the circular centering plate are covered by the adapter plate when the plates are thus fastened together. |
| US08353636B2 |
Support device for a cosmetic article and associated method
This device comprises a covering (12) which defines an internal cavity (22) and a body (14) which can be moved in a first direction relative to the covering (12) between a storage position and a position in which the body (14) is removed from the covering.The device comprises a pushing member (54) which is mounted so as to be able to move relative to the covering (12) in the first direction between an idle position and a configuration for moving the body towards the removal position thereof.The device comprises a releasable assembly (80; 64) for retaining the body in the storage position thereof, and a member (56) for resiliently urging the pushing member (54) towards the idle position thereof. |
| US08353630B2 |
Fluid dynamic bearing with a labyrinth seal
A device for providing an air-gap associated with a portion of a fluid dynamic bearing, a sleeve is provided and surrounds a portion of a shaft. The sleeve and the shaft are configured for establishing the air-gap proximal to a portion of the fluid dynamic bearing. In addition, a cap is also provided and coupled to the sleeve. The cap has an outer end proximal to a portion of the fluid dynamic bearing such that the air-gap is provided between the outer end of the cap and the portion of the fluid dynamic bearing, wherein the air-gap forms a labyrinth seal. |
| US08353623B2 |
Timepiece movement including a karussel
The timepiece movement includes a barrel, an escapement that has an escape wheel and pinion (27, 25), a balance (19) and a gear train for transmitting energy stored in the barrel to the escape wheel. This gear train has an intermediary wheel (23), kinematically connected to the barrel by a first part of the gear train, and kinematically connected to the escape wheel (27) by a second part of the gear train, the second part of the gear train, and the escapement and balance are mounted in a rotating carriage (16) kinematically connected to the movement and arranged for rotating coaxially about the intermediary wheel (23) at a different speed from the speed of the intermediary wheel. The timepiece movement is characterized in that it imposes a speed of one revolution per minute on the carriage (16). |
| US08353621B2 |
Bowl cooling jacket for mixers
A cooling jacket for use with mixing bowls typically incorporated into industrial mixers is provided. This cooling jacket includes plurality of substantially parallel coolant channels formed from the material of the jacket, wherein each of the plurality of channels further includes a least one vertical portion and at least one horizontal portion, and wherein each horizontal portion further includes a plurality of parallel ridges and parallel valleys formed therein and running lengthwise therethrough. |
| US08353616B2 |
Illumination device
The invention relates to an illumination device (10) for illuminating a surface (101), with at least one lighting element (20) and an illuminating body (30), wherein the lighting element (20) emits an artificial light (21,21), a housing element (40) comprises the lighting element (20) and supports the illuminating body (30), the illuminating body (30) comprises a transparent light conductive material suitable to illuminate the surface (101) lying subjacent. The invention discloses, that the illuminating body (30) comprises a surface pattern (80), forming a Fresnel-type lens to optically magnify the surface (101). |
| US08353613B2 |
Light guide plate and display apparatus comprising the same
A light guide plate includes a plurality of quantum dots on at least one of a surface of the light guide plate and inside the light guide plate, wherein the plurality of quantum dots emit light having a different wavelength than a light incident thereto. |
| US08353612B2 |
Light guide with coupling portion having a plurality of reflective facets
An optical device, in particular for a motor vehicle, such as a lighting or signaling device, this device comprising at least one light guide which is designed to guide at least part of the light which is emitted by a source of light, the light guide comprising at least one output surface and at least one main reflection surface, which is designed to reflect towards the output surface light which is propagated in the guide, the light guide comprising a portion for coupling with the source of light, this coupling portion having a transverse axis (Y), wherein the coupling portion is arranged such that the light which is emitted from this coupling portion is propagated in the light guide, around the transverse axis, according to a total angular opening, measured around this transverse axis, which is strictly less than 360°, and in particular is less than 320° or 300°. |
| US08353611B2 |
Fastener with illuminator
A fastener includes a main body having a front portion and a rear portion, a securing member engageable with the rear portion of the main body, and a light source unit securable between the securing member and the front portion of the main body, for providing light to illuminate the front portion of the main body. |
| US08353605B2 |
Wireless network apparatus capable of illumination
A wireless network apparatus capable of illumination includes a casing, a motherboard, a prompting unit, and a light emitting unit. The casing has a light permeable portion. The motherboard is disposed in the casing for serving a networking function. The prompting unit is disposed at the motherboard and electrically connected thereto for generating a prompting signal in accordance with a status of the networking function being performed by the motherboard. The light emitting unit is disposed on the motherboard or in the casing and corresponds in position to the light permeable portion. The light emitting unit is powered by the motherboard and configured to emit light passing through the light permeable portion, thereby serving a lighting function. Accordingly, the wireless network apparatus provides home illumination, increases the value-added, and boosts consumers' willingness to buy and install the wireless network apparatus. |
| US08353604B2 |
Illuminated cup holder assembly
An illuminated cup holder assembly for a vehicle includes at least one side wall and a base wall together defining a cup holder recess. The base wall has a light transmissive portion. An illumination source is secured to an underside of the base wall for illuminating the cup holder recess through the light transmissive portion of the base wall. |
| US08353600B1 |
MEMS actuator assembly for optical switch
A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator assembly includes a mirror and four actuators. Each actuator includes a lever pivotable about a fulcrum axis. The inner end of each lever is coupled to one side of the mirror. Force is applied to one outer end of the levers to move one side of the mirror, which positions the mirror in one of four positions. Force is applied to two outer ends of the levers to move two sides of the mirror, which positions the mirror in one of four additional positions. |
| US08353598B2 |
Display systems and methods for mobile devices
Display systems and methods for mobile devices and mobile devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display system for a mobile device is provided. The mobile device is handheld and includes a primary display screen. The display system includes an auxiliary screen and a connecting device coupled to the auxiliary screen and attachable to the mobile device. An image from the mobile device is producible on the auxiliary screen. The display system is removable from the mobile device. |
| US08353595B2 |
Fundus camera
A hand camera for photographing an eye fundus is provided. The camera consists of a tube (3c), a camera housing (3a, 3b), which camera housing is attached to one end (3d) of the tube in a light-tight way, a camera device (4) that is able to record images by means of a two-dimensional optical sensor or a photographical film and that is accommodated in the camera housing (3a, 3b), a telephoto lens (5) that is arranged in the beam path of the light that is reflected from the eye fundus, which is accommodated in the camera housing (3a, 3b), a wide-angle lens (2), which is arranged in the beam path of the light that is reflected from the eye fundus at the other end (3e) of the tube (3c), and a light supplying device (1) consisting of a homogeneous trans-luminescent material, wherein the light supplying device (1) is arranged with respect to the tube (3c) in such a way that for a sufficient approach of the other end (3e) of the tube (3c) to the eye to be examined the light supplying device touches the sclera of the eye, provided that the center of the wide-angle lens is aligned with the center of the pupil. |
| US08353590B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head that ejects liquid to be cured by receiving irradiation of an electromagnetic wave onto a medium; a provisional-curing irradiation section that emits a first electromagnetic wave to a dot formed on the medium by the liquid; and a main-curing irradiation section that emits a second electromagnetic wave, which has irradiation intensity higher than that of the first electromagnetic wave, to the dot to which the first electromagnetic wave is emitted. When the main-curing irradiation section emits the second electromagnetic wave, a dot forming surface of the medium faces the lower side in the direction of gravity. |
| US08353588B2 |
Drawing device
A drawing device includes a carriage, a base configured and arranged to mount a substrate, and a movement device configured and arranged to move the substrate and the carriage relative to each other in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. The carriage includes a plurality of types of droplet ejection head units and a plurality of ink-curing light irradiation sections. The droplet ejection head units are configured and arranged to respectively eject a plurality of types of photo-curing inks onto the substrate with the droplet ejection head units being aligned along a direction intersecting the second direction at a predetermined pitch. The ink-curing light irradiation sections are respectively disposed in positions adjacent to both sides of each of the droplet ejection head units in the second direction, and configured and arranged to cure the photo-curing inks. |
| US08353586B2 |
Ink jet printer, ink jet recording method, and recorded matter
The present invention provides an ink jet printer having storage for storing ink, a recording head including a nozzle for ejecting ink, and a passage between the storage and the recording head for conducting the ink. At least one of these components comprising an ink-contacting member that comprises an antioxidant of the following formula (1) of a concentration of 100 ppm or less: Further, an ink jet recording method using the ink jet printer causes such printer to eject droplets of an ink composition and attach the droplets to a recording medium. |
| US08353580B2 |
Liquid ejection head
A liquid ejection head including: a channel unit having pressure chambers, ejection openings, and liquid channels; and an actuator unit including a piezoelectric layer and individual electrodes formed on a face of the piezoelectric layer, the actuator unit being configured to apply a drive voltage to the individual electrodes, wherein each of the individual electrodes includes: a land to which the drive voltage is applied; a main portion disposed such that an entire area thereof is opposite to a corresponding one of the pressure chambers in a direction perpendicular to the face of the piezoelectric layer; an extended portion extending, in an extending direction in which the extended portion extends, from the main portion toward the land along the face so as to connect the main portion and the land; and a dummy extended portion extending from the main portion along the face in an opposite direction opposite to the extending direction. |
| US08353576B2 |
Liquid discharge head and electric wiring substrate
A liquid discharge head includes a recording element substrate having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid, and a plurality of recording elements for generating energy to discharge liquid, and an electric wiring substrate electrically connecting the recording element substrate and a driving circuit substrate having a circuit for driving the plurality of recording elements, the electric wiring substrate having a plurality of first electrical contact groups including a plurality of electrical contacts, for electrically connecting with the driving circuit substrate, provided along a disposed direction in which the plurality of discharge ports are disposed. The plurality of first electrical contact groups are detachably attached to a plurality of second electrical contact groups electrically connected with the driving circuit substrate, such that adjacent first electrical contact groups do not overlap each other in the disposed direction and in a direction orthogonal to the disposed direction. |
| US08353571B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and method for manufacturing liquid ejecting apparatus
A printer apparatus includes a drive circuit and a flexible board on which the drive circuit is mounted. A first input line and a second input line for inputting a driving signal respectively to the drive circuit and an actuator are provided on the flexible board. A thermistor that has a high resistance value with terminals provided therein being in an electrically disconnected state at a temperature not less than a predetermined temperature and has a low resistance value with the terminals being in an electrically connected state at a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature is provided between the first input line and the second input line. |
| US08353570B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle. A head movement section moves the liquid ejecting head in a movement direction. A controller controls a movement ejection operation that ejects the liquid from the nozzle while moving the liquid ejecting head in the movement direction. If there is satisfied a decision condition that indicates that the ejection rate is excessive, the controller causes the number movement ejection operations related to a certain range to be larger than if the decision condition were not satisfied. With respect to second liquid being higher in viscosity than first liquid, the controller determines the number movement ejection operations related to the above-mentioned certain range by the above-mentioned decision condition determined as excess of the above-mentioned ejection rate at an ejection rate being smaller than that of the first liquid. |
| US08353563B2 |
Roller extraction guide
A roller pull-out guide pulls out a furniture part from a furniture body in a pull-out direction and slides the furniture part into the furniture body in a slide-in direction. The guide includes at least one guide rail and at least one roller guided in this guide rail as well as a self-retraction device with a spring-loaded, tiltably and displaceably supported tilt slide for retracting the furniture part in the slide-in direction. The tilt slide includes a claw which engages on the roller for the retraction of the furniture part in the slide-in direction. |
| US08353561B2 |
Operating lever structure for vehicle seat, and method of manufacturing operating lever structure
In an operating lever structure for a vehicle seat in which an opening through which a seat belt extends is provided adjacent to a seat cushion lifting and lowering mechanism and a fixed end portion of the seat belt is connected to a seat cushion frame, a lifter lever includes a plate-like extending portion that is coupled to the lifting and lowering mechanism and a protrusion portion. The plate-like extending portion extends toward a front of the seat. The protrusion portion extends from the front end of the plate-like extending portion toward the outside in the seat width direction. The protrusion portion protrudes from an outer shield through a first exposing port of the outer shield, installed to a side portion of the seat cushion. |
| US08353557B2 |
Movable wind deflector
A movable wind deflector assembly for use in an open roof construction for a vehicle comprises at least one pivoting wind deflector arm that with a first end is pivotally connected to the vehicle at a hinge point and at its opposite second end carries a wind deflector body extending in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The wind deflector assembly further comprises an operating mechanism for moving the wind deflector arm and wind deflector body forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. |
| US08353553B2 |
Actuation means for a rotatably supported flap in an automobile comprising a push-push kinematics
A drive for actuating a flap pivotably supported in or on an automobile includes a push-push kinematics. The kinematics includes a pushbar axially displaceably supported in a housing and having an external actuation end cooperating with the flap. A rotatable ring encloses the pushbar. A groove runs parallel to the pushbar axis and engages with a protrusion at the inner circumference of the ring. A first deflection face runs obliquely to the pushbar axis and cooperates with the protrusion of the ring to rotate this ring when the pushbar is pushed into the housing. A locking recess situated at the pushbar for receiving the protrusion when the pushbar is released, to lock the pushbar in the housing. A second deflection face runs obliquely to the pushbar axis and cooperates with the protrusion when the pushbar is moved out of the locked position by being pushed farther into the housing. |
| US08353552B2 |
Vehicle seat with striker mechanism
A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a seat back, and a striker. The seat back connects with the seat base for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. The striker is moveable in a linear direction between a retracted position where the striker is disposed in the seat back and an extended position where the striker extends from the seat back for engaging an associated latch. Movement of the seat back in a first direction, which is toward the seat base, results in the striker moving toward the retracted position. Movement of the seat back in a second direction, which is away from the seat base, results in the striker moving toward the extended position. |
| US08353546B1 |
Apparatus for opening doors
A device for assisting a disabled person to open and close and to lock or unlock doors. The device includes a coated metal hook equipped with a silicon strip attached to a rod with a lock opener attached to the opposite end from the hook. The person using the device can open doors by placing the hook over the door knob and rotating the rod and pulls or pushes to open the door from a preferred distance. |
| US08353535B2 |
Skate with pivoting rocker and replaceable blade
A replaceable blade ice skate (9) comprising a holder (2), a blade system having at least one blade engagement portion (11) and a blade (4, 52), at least one attachment device (5) mounted to the holder for movement between a blade securing position and a blade releasing position. The attachment device having an attachment engagement portion (6), wherein the blade system is retained in the holder via the blade engagement portion detachably mating with the attachment engagement portion when the attachment device is in the blade securing position. The blade system further comprising a downward facing rocker (3) and a flexible replaceable blade (4) which conforms to the first defined curvature of the rocker when mounted thereon. |
| US08353534B2 |
Vehicle having utility bed and passenger restraint assembly
A vehicle includes a vehicular frame, a utility bed, and a passenger restraint assembly. The utility bed is coupled with the vehicular frame and includes a bed floor, a side wall, and a rear scat. The passenger restraint assembly includes a securing member, a belt and a retractor. The securing member is coupled with the utility bed adjacent to the rear seat. The belt includes a first end; a second end, and a securing portion. The securing portion is configured for selective engagement with the securing member. The retractor is coupled with the side wall. The retractor includes a carrier that is coupled with the first end of the belt and is configured to facilitate selective dispensation of the belt. |
| US08353530B2 |
Inflatable airbag assemblies with anti-slip patches
Inflatable curtain airbags can be used to mitigate the likelihood of an occupant being ejected from a vehicle through a side window. Inflatable curtain airbags are typically tethered to a vehicle structure on a car-forward side, but may not be tethered to a vehicle structure on their car-rearward side. Increased friction between the car-rearward side of the airbag and an adjacent vehicle structure can be used to help the airbag say in place, and thereby decrease the likelihood of an occupant passing the airbag and being ejected from the vehicle. |
| US08353525B2 |
Pyrotechnic tether release assembly with a break-away piston for inflatable airbags
A depth to which an inflatable airbag can deploy may be varied by internal tethers. If the tethers are coupled to a release assembly, then in an unreleased state, the tethers can limit the depth of airbag deployment; however, if the tethers are released, the airbag can deploy of a full depth. |
| US08353522B2 |
Towing assembly
The present invention relates to a towing bar assembly that may convert from an articulated assembly extracting a vehicle in an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for safely towing a vehicle on a road. |
| US08353517B2 |
Late bet baccarat
Among other things, enabling late bets in a game of Baccarat includes accepting a first bet from one or more participants. Two cards are dealt to each of a player position and a bank position. A player position score and a bank position score are determined based on the two cards dealt to each of the player position and the two cards dealt to the bank position. Based on the determined scores for the player position and the bank position, a determination is made on whether to deal a third card to at least one of the player position and the bank position. |
| US08353511B2 |
Paper discharge device
A paper discharge device includes a waiting path, one side of which is connected to an input port and another side of which is connected to a discharge port. A collection path has one side connected to the waiting path through a merged portion and another side connected to a collection chamber. Conveyance mechanisms disposed along the waiting path convey a paper which was conveyed through the input port to the discharge port in a forward direction, and convey, after lapse of a given period of time after conveyance of the paper to the discharge port, the paper in a reverse direction through the merged portion to feed into the collection path. The waiting path has a downward curvature between the merged portion and the discharge port. |
| US08353510B2 |
Variable media feed system and printhead apparatus
A print media feed system for media of variable thickness having a slanted loading platform with drive wheels to direct print media to a feed zone having a belt system and hanging friction wheels to draw out single print medium of varying thickness and feed the medium to a print zone for a ink jet, laser or other printer wherein the print zone includes a floating deck to maintain a constant clearance distance between the printhead and the print medium. |
| US08353507B2 |
Sheet feeding device
Occurrence of improper sheet-feeding of sheets is reduced. A sheet stacking section is lifted by an amount that is larger when a sheet-feed retry is performed than when an ordinary lifting operation is performed. |
| US08353504B2 |
Sheet folding apparatus
A sheet folding apparatus includes a blade member having an edge configured to push a surface of a sheet so as to push the sheet into a sheet folding unit configured to fold the sheet, a pair of nipping members that is included in the sheet folding unit and nips the sheet pushed into the sheet folding unit by the blade member, a blade member moving unit that moves the blade member and a nipping member moving unit that moves the pair of nipping members. The blade member moving unit and the nipping member moving unit are driven by the same driving unit. |
| US08353500B2 |
Pre-manufactured fence system
A pre-manufactured fence system is constructed of horizontal rails, posts that form a fence field surface or and area and pickets or panels that complete the field. The posts and rails are hollow extruded members of polymer or metal material that are interconnected by bracket members that fit within bracket compartments of the rails. Bracket bar members are connected with the bracket members and are received within key-ways of the posts to properly position the rails with respect to the posts. The extruded components perform fence component positioning and establish pre-determined dimensioning and locations of the accompanying parts and pieces of the complete fence system and provide for component attachment that is not visible when the fence installation is completed. |
| US08353494B2 |
Mounting appratus for slide rail
A mounting apparatus is provided for mounting a slide rail to a rack post defining a plurality of through holes. The mounting apparatus includes a supporting bracket slidably mounted to the slide rail, and a resilient latch member. The supporting bracket includes an end plate at the front end with two inserting pins extending from a front surface of the end plate and engaged in corresponding through holes of the rack post. The latch member includes a middle plate retained to the supporting bracket, and a latch arm extending forwards. The latch member is operable to be deformed to make the latch arm abut a front surface of the rack post, to prevent the inserting pin from retracting from corresponding through holes. |
| US08353492B2 |
Equipment enclosure kit and assembly method
An equipment enclosure for housing electronic components includes a front assembly having a front frame, the front assembly defining a front of the enclosure, and a rear assembly having a rear frame. The enclosure further includes at least two side brace members, each side brace member having a first end and a second, opposite end. A first connector is configured to releasably connect the first end of one of the side brace members to the front frame. A second connector is configured to releasably connect the second end of the one of the side brace members to the rear frame. Other embodiments and methods are further disclosed. |
| US08353490B2 |
Device for attaching electronic components to flat-screen television
Bracket for attachment to a flat-screen television having a support platform for positioning electronic components below the television. The caddy comprises top support brackets which hook over the top of the television or over the television wall mount bracket and has a horizontal member abutting the top of the television, and front vertical extension member that extends down in front of the television. Extending down from the top support brackets are side vertical bars in back of the television. Attached to the bottom of the side vertical bars are horizontal bottom support brackets upon which the television sits. The electronic component support platform is attached to the bottom of the two vertical bottom side bars which includes lateral and perpendicular support bars which function to support the electronic components. Many of the bars telescope allowing its use with a variety of sized televisions and electronic components of varying sizes. |
| US08353486B2 |
Lateral seismic brace
A sway brace fitting clamp is used for lateral bracing of sprinkler or other types of pipe (designated the service pipe) to a structure, to prevent movement of the service pipe perpendicular to the axis of a sway brace relative to the structure to which it is attached. The sway brace fitting clamp includes a body which fits around the service pipe, and a pair of hooks that are coupled to the body, for hooking the sway brace. The nuts may be tightened to pull the sway brace into contact with the service pipe, or otherwise firmly clamping the sway brace and the service pipe together. |
| US08353484B2 |
Cockpit rudder control mechanism for an aircraft
A cockpit rudder control mechanism is described for accepting aircraft control input utilizing rudder pedals depending from a movable carriage to rotate a shaft. The mechanism may be removed from the aircraft for maintenance and the position of the mechanism within the aircraft may be adjusted for a particular user. Movement of the rudder pedals is conveyed by linkages to a collar which rotates a shaft. The rotation of the shaft is measured for control input to the aircraft or is transferred to the mechanical control systems for the aircraft. |
| US08353480B2 |
Concentric peripheral canopy parachute
A concentric peripheral canopy parachute having a canopy system including a number of peripheral, stacked, concentric, canopies, each superior canopy centered and spaced above the inferior canopy and having its skirt connected to the vent of the inferior canopy for generating an increased low pressure disturbance behind the canopy system for producing higher fluid drag. |
| US08353474B2 |
Food processing system
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for processing system foodstuff are shown and described. Food processing systems can hold and prepare food for consumption. The disclosed embodiments can be quickly and conveniently used to dry, grind, mill, dispense, or otherwise process foodstuff. |
| US08353471B2 |
Method of producing a frame unit
A method of producing a foundation bed (1) for a granulator mill includes the steps that the foundation bed is cast from a plastic- or concrete based casting material in a mold (13) manufactured from thin sheet metal, the mold being given surfaces (16) for cooperation with a granulator mill housing (2) with high precision. In order to avoid after-treatment of the surfaces (16) of the mold intended for cooperation with the granulator mill housing, these surfaces are clamped during the casting process against a common, configurationally stable clamping member. |
| US08353470B2 |
Power-assisted docking station for mobile irrigation apparatus
A mobile irrigation apparatus includes a frame assembly supporting at least one sprinkler and adapted for movement in a first direction along a path in a field to be irrigated; a docking station suspended from the frame assembly and adapted to engage and open one or more supply valves in a hydrant located in or adjacent the path for movement in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction, and at least one power actuator arranged to move the docking station in the second direction in response to at least one sensor to thereby facilitate lateral alignment of the docking station with the hydrant. |
| US08353463B2 |
Methods and apparatus for heating air with hot water
A method controls an air handler that generates heated air from hot water generated by a water heater. The method includes generating a signal in the presence or absence of an indicia of water flow associated with the water heater; initiating operation of a pump associated with the air handler when the signal indicates that water flow associated with the water heater is at least at a selected level to supply hot water to the air handler sufficient to generate heated air; and/or terminating operation of the pump and/or a blower/fan associated with the air handler when the presence or absence signal indicates that the water flow associated with the water heater is less than the selected level. |
| US08353460B2 |
Reset signal generation circuit and semiconductor device
An object is to provide a reset signal generation circuit which has a simple circuit configuration without hysteresis characteristics so as not to occupy a larger area, and is resistant to noise and can surely generate a power-on reset signal; and to provide a semiconductor device including the reset signal generation circuit. The reset signal generation circuit includes a first buffer circuit, a low pass filter, a resistor, and a second buffer circuit. An output terminal of the first buffer circuit is electrically connected to an input terminal of the low pass filter. An output terminal of the low pass filter is electrically connected to one terminal of the resistor and an input terminal of the second buffer circuit. A constant potential is supplied to the other terminal of the resistor. |
| US08353459B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
It is an object of the present invention to suppress poor connection or increase in contact resistance even in the case where an antenna is formed over an integrated circuit portion. An integrated circuit portion having a first conductive film is formed over a substrate, an insulating film is formed over the integrated circuit portion, a second conductive film serving as an antenna is formed over the insulating film, an opening is formed in the insulating film and the second conductive film to expose the first conductive film, and a third conductive film is formed in the opening and over a top surface of the second conductive film by a plating process to electrically connect the first conductive film and the second conductive film. |
| US08353454B2 |
Apparatus and method for calculating aiming point information
The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets. |
| US08353453B2 |
Electronic voting method and apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for electronic voting performed in response to insertion of an electronic ballot by a voter into an electronic voting machine. The method includes storing candidate information in a candidate database, issuing an electronic ballot by a ballot dispenser in response to a ballot issuance request of a voter, displaying by the electronic voting machine a list of candidates from the candidate database when the electronic ballot is inserted into the electronic voting machine, and printing by a printer vote data related to a selected candidate on the electronic ballot, followed by dispensing the printed electronic ballot when the voter selects the candidate whom the voter wishes to vote from among the list of candidates. The electronic ballot is printed with a barcode corresponding to vote information containing at least one of data for authentication, precinct ID and polling place ID. |
| US08353451B2 |
Transaction apparatus, systems and methods
Aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to alternative kinds of transactions, which do not involve payment using only cash or a token device such as a smart card or chip and PIN card. In some embodiments, transactions involve a customer providing token-less transaction authentication information using customer interface means (150) that is adapted to receive, from a customer, in a first mode of operation, PIN or other token device authentication information, for use in a token device transaction, and token-less transaction authentication information, when operating in another mode of operation. In some embodiments, the customer interface means may be a specially-adapted chip and PIN card reader apparatus. Accordingly, such a customer input means facilitates manual input by a customer of voucher, coupon, accrued loyalty points, Air Miles, ticket or pass authentication information, without the need for a retailer to install new equipment or IT infrastructure. |
| US08353443B2 |
Device and method for cooling rail weld zone
A device for cooling a rail weld zone according to the invention includes a first cooler cooling a head portion of the rail weld zone, a second cooler cooling a rail web portion of the rail weld zone, and a control section controlling the first and second coolers. The first cooler includes a first temperature detecting section that detects the temperature of the head portion, and a first ejection section that ejects a first cooling fluid to the head portion. The second cooler includes a second temperature detecting section that detects the temperature of the rail web portion, and a second ejection section that ejects a second cooling fluid to the rail web portion. The control section individually changes the kinds, the flow rates, and the flow velocities of the first and second cooling fluids while cooling the head portion and the rail web portion. |
| US08353438B2 |
Circular stapler introducer with rigid cap assembly configured for easy removal
Introducers for introducing a surgical circular stapler into a patient. Various embodiments comprise a hollow flexible sheath that has a distal end and an open proximal end that is sized to receive a stapling head portion of the circular stapler therein. A rigid cap assembly may be attached to the distal end of the hollow flexible sheath The rigid cap assembly may be configured to selectively move between a closed position wherein a distal face of the stapling head is covered and an open position wherein the distal face of the stapling head is exposed. A portion of the rigid cap assembly has a shape that substantially matches a perimetrical shape of a portion of the stapling head to enable the rigid cap assembly to pass proximally over the stapling head when the introducer is withdrawn from the patient. |
| US08353435B2 |
Multistage solenoid fastening tool with decreased energy consumption and increased driving force
A fastening device that drives one or more fasteners into a workpiece generally includes a tool housing and a multistage solenoid contained in the tool housing. The multistage solenoid includes an armature member that travels through at least a first stage, a second stage, and a sense coil disposed therebetween. A driver blade assembly includes a blade member connected to the armature member. The driver blade assembly is operable between an extended condition and a retracted condition. A control module determines a position of the armature member relative to at least one of the first stage and the second stage based on a signal from the sense coil. The control module adjusts a force imparted on the armature by at least one of the first stage, the second stage, and a combination thereof based on the signal from the sense coil. |
| US08353431B2 |
Spray bottle suction straw diversion device
A spray bottle that has a Suction Straw Diversion Device (SSDD) that diverts or directs the sprayer pump suction straw towards the perimeter of the bottle. This can be accomplished through the use of a protrusion, bar, tube, rail, plate, hook or any other device built into the bottle that will keep the suction straw diverted to the perimeter of the bottle and in the liquid thus allowing it to be dispensed. |
| US08353428B2 |
Volumetric metering fitment and package including the same
A package including a fitment for holding a liquid therein to dispense the liquid and the fitment itself. The fitment is a metering dispensing valve arranged to be secured to a flexible bag for selectively dispensing a metered quantity of the liquid therefrom. It includes a piercing member for piercing through the bag to provide access to the interior of the bag and a compressible bulb having a reservoir in it. The dispensing valve also includes an inlet valve to the reservoir and an outlet valve from the reservoir. The bulb is arranged to be compressed and then released to enable a metered amount of the liquid to be drawn into a reservoir. The bulb can then be compressed again to dispense the metered amount of liquid from the reservoir through the outlet valve to the outlet. |
| US08353426B2 |
Gas generation dispenser method for on-demand fluid delivery
A method of dispensing a fluid comprising generating a gas from a liquid, directing the gas to an expandable gas chamber to expand a volume of the expandable gas chamber, reducing a volume of a fluid chamber in response to expansion of the expandable gas chamber to dispense an amount of the fluid from the fluid chamber, and removing the gas from the expandable gas chamber to collapse the expandable gas chamber. |
| US08353425B2 |
Time delay product pushing system
A system for controlled advancement of product. Systems of this invention includes a pushing system having a track, a pusher, and an optional resistance mechanism. The resistance mechanism couples to the track and the pusher, controlling forward movement of the pusher along the track and thereby controlling the speed at which product is advanced for access by the consumer. Certain embodiments of the invention include additional mechanisms to further limit the forward progression of the pusher along the track, such as a stop mechanism or an indexing mechanism. |
| US08353424B2 |
Component feeder
A component feeder capable of enhancing productivity is provided by that the component feeder includes a tape feeding device intermittently feeding a component housing tape constituted of a carrier tape having component housing parts formed with predetermined interval to contain respective electronic components, and a cover tape covering the component housing parts to prevent the components from jumping out from the component housing parts while the component housing tape wound on a housing tape reel is sequentially fed to a component extracting position, and an electronic component exposing device exposing the electronic components in the component housing parts to be allowed to be extracted, wherein the tape feeding device is constituted of a first feeding device and a second feeding device, and the electronic component exposing device is provided between the first feeding device and the second feeding device. |
| US08353419B2 |
Lockable cap
A lockable cap assembly including a handle having at least one protrusion, and a flip cap defining an internal chamber surrounded by a flip cap edge. The flip cap including at least one locking groove configured to engage the at least one protrusion, and an engagement surface. The lockable cap also including a collar having a release mechanism for engaging with the engagement surface. The flip cap being moveable between an open configuration in which a portion of the flip cap edge is not in contact with a surface of the collar and a closed configuration in which the flip cap edge is in full contact with the collar. |
| US08353418B2 |
Pressure relief cap
A pressure relief cap engageable with a container includes a vent passage between an interior of the cap and an exterior of the cap. A two-way pressure relief valve is located along the vent passage and is configured to open automatically in response to a positive net interior pressure exceeding a first threshold pressure and in response to a negative net interior pressure exceeding a second threshold pressure. A manual actuator is actuable from the exterior of the cap to open the two-way pressure relief valve. A plug is positioned along the vent passage in series with the two-way pressure relief valve, movable between a first position in which the vent passage is open between the two-way pressure relief valve and the exterior of the cap and a second position in which the plug closes the vent passage between the two-way pressure relief valve and the exterior of the cap. |
| US08353416B2 |
Bottom-dumping flexible debris container
In a non-limiting, illustrative embodiment a bottom-dumping flexible debris container includes a top section including flexible side members. A bottom section includes flexible bottom members that are hingedly attached to the flexible side members of the top section. A release mechanism is configured to releasably attach the flexible bottom members to each other. |
| US08353415B2 |
Synthetic resin bottle
A biaxially stretched, blow molded synthetic resin bottle with a bottom comprising a sunken bottom portion, which is formed by contouring and concaving the bottom plate upward in a direction of bottle inside, starting from an inner edge of a ground contact portion disposed along the peripheral foot, the sunken bottom portion being capable of drawing upward in a reversible manner, when internal pressure goes down. |
| US08353407B2 |
Apparatus and method for making wire screen
A method of making a screen with an apparatus, the screen including a plurality of wires arranged in a patterned configuration, the apparatus including an extruder and a mold, the method including (a) longitudinally aligning the plurality of wires in the apparatus in a first direction only and arranging the wires in the patterned configuration, (b) applying a first bead of molten material on the wires via the extruder, and (c) directly molding the first bead of molten material into a support member for the screen by closing the mold about the bead, wherein the support member at least partially encases at least one of the wires. |
| US08353405B2 |
Reverse froth flotation of calcite ore
The invention relates to a reverse froth flotation process for treating a calcium carbonate ore containing silicates. The process comprises the use of two collectors selected from the group consisting of fatty tri-lower-alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty di-lower-alkyl benzyl quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty lower-alkyl di-benzyl quaternary ammonium compounds, di-fatty di-lower-alkyl quats, di-fatty lower-alkyl benzyl quats, and fatty bis-imidazoline quats. The use of a combination of different quats was found to result in a synergetic performance of the collectors. |
| US08353402B2 |
Stackable low depth tray
A tray for storing and transporting bottles includes a plurality of spaced apart base walls each for supporting a bottle thereon. A plurality of interior columns extend upwardly between the base walls. Longitudinal dividers connect the interior columns. Lateral dividers connect the interior columns to side columns along side edges of the tray. The side columns have tapered mid-portions, such that upwardly-opening windows between side columns are contoured convexly. |
| US08353399B2 |
Preparation-at-use device comprising pre-formed hydrogel product
Disclosed is a preparation-at-use device comprising: (1) a pre-formed hydrogel component packaged in a first compartment; the pre-formed hydrogel component comprising a gelling agent and a solvent; and (2) a benefit component packaged in a second compartment; the benefit component comprising at least one compound that is unstable when contacted with the pre-formed hydrogel component; wherein the first and second compartments are separately packaged prior to use, and wherein the device comprises means for contacting the pre-formed hydrogel component and benefit component upon use. |
| US08353398B2 |
Package for beverage-type containers
A package for holding a plurality of articles. The package has panels that cooperate to at least partially form an interior of the package. The panels comprise a top panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the top panel. At least one opening is in the top panel for at least partially receiving at least a portion of one of the articles. At least one retention flap is foldably connected to the top panel adjacent the at least one opening. The at least one retention flap has a free edge for engaging at least one article of the plurality of articles. The at least one retention flap is at least partially defined by at least one J-shaped cut. |
| US08353393B2 |
Operator interface controllable brake with field responsive material
A vehicle operator input device for controlling the vehicle with the operator input device including an operator interface lever moveable by a vehicle operator in first and second directions about an axis. The operator input device includes a sensor system with a sensor target. The sensor system senses the moveable operator interface lever and provides an operator interface lever position signal as a function of a position of the operator interface lever. The operator input device includes an interface lever controllable brake coupled to the operator interface lever, and a brake controller coupled to the sensor system for receiving the operator interface mechanism position signal and with the brake controller coupled to the brake for responsively transmitting a plurality of brake signals to the brake with the operator interface lever controllable brake responsively providing resistive braking forces to the operator interface lever for opposing a force applied to the operator interface lever by the operator, the operator interface lever controllable brake providing the resistive braking forces in response to controller brake signals, with the brake controller providing a first background force signal followed with a second below background force drop signal followed with a third above background stop force signal wherein the operator is provided with a mechanical detent sensation at a target lever location. |
| US08353390B2 |
Splash shield for brake corner assembly
A brake corner assembly includes a steering knuckle fixed against rotation, a rotary member including a outer surface, and a shield secured to the steering knuckle and including a ring including a sealing surface located adjacent to the outer surface, the sealing surface having a first diameter that is substantially equal to a second diameter of a portion of the outer surface that is adjacent to the sealing surface. |
| US08353385B1 |
Decorative end-cap for motor vehicle exhaust system
An exhaust pipe end-cap that includes an annulus having an annular leading edge and an annular trailing edge, an annular interior surface having a frusto-conical shape for mating with an exterior frusto-conical shape of an exterior surface of an exhaust system, an outer surface on said annulus for carrying a decorative design thereon, and a fastener located on the annular interior surface for securing the exhaust end-cap to the exterior surface of the exhaust system. |
| US08353384B2 |
Method and apparatus for a loudspeaker assembly
A loudspeaker assembly is provided. In one or more embodiments the loudspeaker assembly comprises a perforated grille, a three dimensional loudspeaker frame to which a speaker driver is mounted, and a rear baffle. In one or more embodiments, the loudspeaker frame and rear baffle define a controlled volume around the speaker driver. In one or more embodiments the controlled volume comprises a driver cavity and a horn cavity in communication with the driver cavity and a port aperture. |
| US08353383B2 |
Water motion powered seismic energy source and method for seismic surveying therewith
A seismic energy source includes an inlet aperture and an inlet pipe in fluid communication with an outlet of the inlet aperture at an inlet end of the inlet pipe. The inlet pipe is in fluid communication with an accumulator at an outlet end of the inlet pipe. An outlet pipe is in fluid communication with the accumulator at an inlet end of the outlet pipe and is connected to an outlet valve at an outlet end of the outlet pipe. The outlet valve is actuated by fluid pressure in the outlet pipe. An actuation pressure of the valve, and diameter, length and material properties of the outlet pipe are selected to cause a reflected water pressure wave resulting from closure of the valve to travel within the outlet pipe at a selected velocity. Motion of the seismic source through the water provides water pressure to operate the source. |
| US08353382B2 |
Steering valve having a planetary gear train
A power steering assembly (20) for a hydraulic power steering system of motor vehicles having at least one hydraulic servo valve with a control element (26) for controlling the steering support dependent upon the relative rotation of the input shaft (22) relative to the output shaft (28), at least two planetary gear trains (30, 40) for transmitting the rotary movement of the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) onto the control element (26), and at least one actuator (50) for the relative adjustment of the control element (26) relative to the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) in order to influence the steering support characteristic. |
| US08353379B2 |
Optionally connectable four-wheel drive vehicle
An optionally connectable four-wheel drive vehicle having: an engine having a drive shaft; two main drive wheels; a main power train permanently connecting the drive shaft to the main drive wheels and, in turn, having a transmission and a main differential; two normally driven secondary drive wheels; an optionally connectable secondary power train for also connecting the drive shaft to the secondary drive wheels, a gear drive with at least two different, alternatively selectable velocity ratios, and at least one secondary clutch, which is connected on one side to the drive shaft upstream from the transmission and on the other side to the secondary drive wheels. |
| US08353377B2 |
Steering cylinder mounting arrangement used with a length-adjustable axle
A windrower having an adjustable axle to vary a width of steerable caster-mounted rear wheels operably connected by right and left steering cylinders mounted to right and left reaction arms pivoted to respective rods coupled to steering arms fixed to respective spindles mounted within a cylindrical receptacle at outer ends of the adjustable axle. One embodiment each reaction arm has a bracket coupled to a fixed portion of the rear axle when telescopic end sections of the axle are in a narrow width position, and selectively mounted to outer ends of the telescopic end sections of the axle when in a wide width position. A second embodiment has the reaction arms mounted to spindle receptacles at outer ends of the axle sections to provide the reaction arms with an infinite number of angular positions about the spindle receptacles for different tread widths of the steered rear wheels. |
| US08353375B2 |
Direct drive electric traction motor
A direct drive traction vehicle motor system for a wheeled vehicle includes an electric motor rotor for mechanically attachment to a vehicle wheel for rotational movement with the vehicle wheel. An attachment structure is concentrically mounting the rotor to the vehicle wheel. An electric motor stator is mounted in a concentric relationship with the rotor. A mechanical structure is coupled between the vehicle and the stator for inhibiting rotation of the stator. An electric drive circuit is electrically coupled to the motor stator for exciting the motor stator to impart a rotational force on the vehicle wheel through the rotor. |
| US08353372B2 |
Tracked vehicle
A tracked vehicle, particularly a piste grooming vehicle, comprising a chassis frame and at least one sprocket for a track is characterized in that the sprocket has limited movement between a working position—in which the sprocket protrudes beyond the chassis frame—and a transit position in which the sprocket is located at least partially, preferably totally, within the width of the chassis frame. |
| US08353367B2 |
Methods of using a particle impact drilling system for removing near-borehole damage, milling objects in a wellbore, under reaming, coring perforating, assisting annular flow, and associated methods
A particle impact drilling system and method are described. In several exemplary embodiments, the system and method may be a part of, and/or used with, an apparatus or system, methods, to excavate a subterranean formation. The system can including, for example, removing near-borehole damage, casing, window milling, fishing, drilling with casing, under reaming, coring, perforating, effective circulatory density management, assisted annular flow, and directional control. Embodiments of associated systems and methods are also included. |
| US08353362B2 |
Battery pack-operated hand-guided power tool with throttle lever
A hand-held power tool has a device housing and at least one grip disposed on the device housing. An electric drive motor is arranged in the device housing for operating a working tool. A battery pack provides electric energy for operating the electric drive motor. An electronic control unit is connected to the electric drive motor and the battery pack. An operating element disposed on the grip controls the electric drive motor. An electric actuator is acted upon by the operating element and the output signal of the electric actuator is supplied to the electronic control unit. Electric energy is applied to the electric drive motor by the electronic control unit as a function of a position of the operating element, wherein in a first dead travel range of the operating element that adjoins an inoperative position of the operating element the supplied electric energy is zero. |
| US08353359B2 |
Apparatus and method for attaching a utility vehicle 3-point hitch to an implement bracket
A connecting apparatus and method of using the apparatus provide for attaching an implement to a utility vehicle that has a 3-point hitch including lower lift arms and connecting arms attached to rockshaft arms. The attachment apparatus and corresponding method include a lift support attached to the lower lift arms of the 3-point hitch. This combination of the lift support and lower lift arms provides for the hydraulic positioning of the implement, so that the implement (and/or brackets attached to the implement) may be attached to the utility vehicle (and/or brackets attached to the utility vehicle) without removing the lower lift arms and connecting arms. |
| US08353357B2 |
Fire protection sprinkler with highly sensitive trigger
A heat responsive trigger assembly for a fire protection sprinkler may include a first plate having a bottom face; a second plate including a top face engaging the bottom face; a thermally conductive member disposed between the top and bottom faces and extending beyond a perimeter of at least one of the first and second plates; and a heat fusible material securing the first and second plates in an engaged position. The first and second plates may disengage in response to the heat fusible material reaching a predetermined temperature, thereby allowing a fire suppressant to discharge from the sprinkler. |
| US08353355B2 |
Drill string/annulus sealing with swellable materials
A well system can include a drill string having a drill bit at an end thereof, and a swellable seal exposed to fluid in an annulus external to the drill string. The swellable seal can include a swellable material which swells in response to the fluid comprising a predetermined activating agent. A method of preventing undesired release of fluid from a wellbore can include displacing a drill string through the wellbore, thereby drilling the wellbore, and installing in the wellbore a swellable seal which, in response to the fluid comprising a predetermined activating agent, reduces flow through an annulus formed radially between the drill string and the wellbore. Another well system can include a swellable seal carried into a wellbore on a drill string, with the swellable seal including a swellable material which swells in response to a fluid in the wellbore comprising a predetermined activating agent. |
| US08353352B2 |
Switch mechanisms that allow a single power cable to supply electrical power to two or more downhole electrical motors alternatively and methods associated therewith
A switch mechanism is provided for inclusion in a downhole production string located in a wellbore. The switch mechanism includes an electrical power input and at least two electrical power outputs. In addition, the switch mechanism includes an actuator mechanism which is capable of being actuated from a position remote from the wellbore to selectively move between at least two positions. The movement thereby provides a selective electrical connection between the input and one of the outputs when the actuator is in one of the at least two positions. |
| US08353350B2 |
Subsea test apparatus, assembly and method
Subsea test apparatus comprises: a connector for mating with a corresponding connector of subsea apparatus to provide at least one of electrical, optical, and fluid connection between the test apparatus and the subsea apparatus; measuring means connected to the test apparatus's connector and operable underwater in a measurement mode; a power supply arranged to power the measuring means; and disconnection means for disconnecting the test apparatus's connector from a mated subsea apparatus's connector. The measuring means, in said measurement mode, is arranged to perform at least one measurement, via the mated connectors, on connected subsea apparatus, and the test apparatus further comprises indicating means operable underwater and arranged to provide an indication of a result of the or each measurement. |
| US08353349B2 |
Retaining and isolating mechanisms for magnets in a magnetic cleaning tool
A magnetic retrieval tool used for collecting metallic debris and material from within a wellbore or other surrounding downhole tubular. The tool includes a tool mandrel. A removable insert resides upon the tool mandrel. The insert retains a plurality of individual magnets in a fixed array or matrix surrounding the mandrel. |
| US08353348B2 |
High power umbilicals for subterranean electric drilling machines and remotely operated vehicles
Method and required apparatus to provide the closed-loop feedback control of a remote electric motor that has specific required operating parameters which is used to turn a rotary drill bit to drill a borehole in the earth that receives electrical energy through a long umbilical possessing insulated electrical conduits that includes the steps of measuring a set of electrical parameters with a multiplicity of sensors located near the electric motor, sending that measured information to a computer on the surface of the earth, comparing the measured information with the required operating parameters within the computer, adjusting an uphole power generator system to adjust its electrical output parameters to provide electrical energy to a portion of the umbilical located on the surface of the earth, repeating the measurements and adjustments to provide the closed-loop feedback control of the electric motor having specific required operating parameters. |
| US08353347B2 |
Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations
A method for making a coiled insulated conductor heater to heat a subsurface formation includes pushing the insulated conductor heater longitudinally inside a flexible conduit using pressure. One or more cups are coupled to the outside of the insulated conductor heater. The cups maintain at least some pressure inside at least a portion of the flexible conduit as the insulated conductor heater is pushed inside the flexible conduit. The flexible conduit and the insulated conductor heater are coiled onto a coiled tubing rig. |
| US08353346B2 |
Prevention, actuation and control of deployment of memory-shape polymer foam-based expandables
Actuation and control of the deployment of a polymeric memory-shape material on a wellbore device on a downhole tool may be accomplished by treating a compacted or compressed polymeric memory-shape material with a deployment fluid to lower its Tg and/or decrease its rigidity, thereby softening the polymeric shape-memory material at a given temperature and triggering its expansion or recovery at a lower temperature. Alternatively, the deployment of the compacted or compressed polymeric memory-shape material may be prevented or inhibited by shielding the material with an environment of a fluid that does not substantially lower its Tg, decrease its rigidity or both, and then subsequently contacting the material with a deployment fluid. |
| US08353345B2 |
Geothermal well diversion agent formed from in situ decomposition of carbonyls at high temperature
A method of selectively blocking fractures in a subterranean formation by injecting a diversion agent into the well is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method comprises injecting a diversion agent into a subterranean formation to form an alkaline-earth carbonate precipitate from decomposition of a carbonyl compound, wherein the diversion agent includes the carbonyl compound and an alkaline-earth halide salt. |
| US08353341B1 |
Well system
A well system comprising, in combination, a recipient ground area, a surface casing, a source well casing, a return well casing, and a return pipe. The return pipe is located within the return well casing, and the return well casing is located within the source well casing. This arrangement allows the removal of water from, and the return of water to different strata through the same drilled well hole, while also monitoring different aquifers water quality and/or aquifer parameters. |
| US08353340B2 |
In situ combustion with multiple staged producers
Methods and apparatus relate to in situ combustion. Configurations of the injection and production wells facilitate the in situ combustion. Utilizing wet combustion for some embodiments promotes heat displacement for hydrocarbon recovery with procedures in which one or more of the production and injection wells are configured with lengths deviated from vertical. In some embodiments for either dry or wet combustion, at least the production wells define intake lengths deviated from vertical and that are disposed at staged levels within a formation. Each of the productions wells during the in situ combustion allow for recovery of hydrocarbons through gravity drainage. Vertical separation between the intake lengths of the production wells enables differentiated and efficient removal of combustion gasses and the hydrocarbons. |
| US08353330B2 |
Heat exchanger
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger and, more particularly, to a heat exchanger which is provided with a discharge part formed by opening of some portion of a partition wall, thereby capable of facilitating discharge of oil, air and foreign substances. |
| US08353329B2 |
Ceramic core tapered trip strips
A core for creating an airfoil has a ceramic material that forms a body. The body has an outer dimension, a slot extending through the outer dimension and into the body for receiving an insert, the slot disposed at an angle to the outer dimension, and a trip strip having a first portion disposed in the outer dimension. The first portion is in register with the slot wherein a constant dimension such as minimum thickness is maintained between the trip strip and the slot along a length of the slot and wherein said first portion tapers towards said outer dimension. |
| US08353327B2 |
Adjustable canvas stretching assembly having adjustable stretching bars
A canvas stretching assembly has adjustable stretching bars connecting in an end-to-end configuration that allow for the stretching of a canvas, even after the canvas is mounted thereon, with the degree of stretching being adjustable in multiple directions. The canvas stretching assembly, when disassembled, may be compactly stored, which is especially appreciated for shipment purposes. |
| US08353322B2 |
Filler head for a fuel tank having a protective device
In a tank system, a venting line (6) connects the fuel tank to an activated carbon filter, and a recirculating line (10) opens into a filler head (3). In order to prevent the penetration of liquid fuel into the activated carbon filter, to permit the seal to be checked by applying a partial vacuum and to provide a filler head which can be manufactured inexpensively, an insertion body (22) is provided which forms a funnel (23) which is adjoined by a neck (24) which accommodates the fuel nozzle, which insertion body (22) has, in addition to the neck (24), two vertical blind holes (31, 32), open at the bottom, and a transverse duct (33) which connects the latter, wherein the first blind hole (31) is connected to the recirculating line (10), and a float (40), which clears or closes off the connection to the transverse duct (33), is guided in the second blind hole (32). |
| US08353321B2 |
Method and system for short-range ultrasonic location sensing
A system and method for short-range ultrasonic detecting of a target is proposed herein to be used for example in a liquid-dispensing system such as those provided in home refrigerators. The system comprises a sensor assembly including a transmitter and a receiver positioned side by side so as to yield respective transmitting and receiving beams which overlap to define an asymmetrical shaped detection area, a controller coupled to both the transmitter and receiver to activate the transmitter and for receiving echoes indicative of the target from the receiver and to the dispensing system for opening a valve of the dispensing system when a target is detected. Noises and false alarm rate minimization methods are implemented, including variable relevance zones and requiring a void of signal before excitation. |
| US08353318B2 |
Automated medical liquid filling system and method
A medical liquid filling system and associated methods are provided, the system comprising a disposable and a drive system. The disposable includes a tubular member and a piston slidably disposed within the tubular member for retraction and advancement within at least a first portion of the tubular member. The disposable may include a seal member for sealing the first portion of the tubular member and may be interconnected to the piston for co-movement therewith. The drive system may include a piston drive member selectively interconnectable to the piston for driven advancement and retraction of the piston within the tubular member. The drive system may be interconnected to a controller, which may be operable to automate or semi-automate various filling operations. A user interface may be interconnected to the controller for providing input of various system operation parameters, which may be communicated to the controller to facilitate automated or semi-automated operation of the filing system. |
| US08353313B2 |
Three-port pintle valve for control of actuation oil
A three-port control valve assembly comprising a valve body having two valve seats facing in a common direction and disposed along a central bore terminating in an exhaust port and communicating with a supply port and a common port. A pintle shaft connected to a solenoid actuator extends into the central bore. A first valve head mounted on the pintle shaft mates with the first valve seat to connect the supply port to the common port. While the solenoid is de-energized, supply pressure keeps the first valve closed. A second valve head mates with the second valve seat to connect the common port to the exhaust port. Opening of the first valve closes the second valve via supply oil pressure. When the first valve closes, the second valve is opened by a spring disposed between the second valve head and the exhaust port. |
| US08353308B2 |
Inflatable fluid conduit plug
An inflatable conduit plug is used to seal a conduit such as a floor drain or an air vent. The conduit plug includes a shroud that is removably sealed within the conduit so that fluids pass through the shroud opening. Axially disposed within the shroud is an inflatable bladder adapted for closing the shroud opening. The inflatable bladder is inflated by an inflation signal generated by a controller upon receipt of a contamination signal received from a remote contamination detector. The plug operates in a wireless environment and can be controlled remotely. The plug can also be adapted for diverting contamination away from sensitive lands and storm drains. |
| US08353307B2 |
Swivel hose wagon
A hose wagon wherein the hose wagon frame assembly is structured to rotatably support a hose reel so that the hose reel may rotate freely about a generally vertical axis and a generally horizontal axis. This is accomplished by providing a water supply assembly having two rotational interfaces; one allowing rotation about a vertical axis, the other allowing rotation about a horizontal axis. Further, the hose wagon is free of frame members that extend vertically into the possible path of travel of a hose disposed on the hose reel. The frame assembly includes a handle member that is structured to move between an upper, first position, wherein the handle is disposed on the upper side of the hose wagon, and a second position, wherein the handle is disposed at a location lower than the path of travel of the hose coming off the hose reel. |
| US08353304B2 |
Hair treatment applicator for improved hair strand effects
The present invention relates to an applicator (1) which allows for precise, non-messy and even application of a hair treatment composition to a hair strand. The applicator (1) comprises a plate (10) movably joined by a connection (30) to a well (20), a hair orientation means on the internal surface (101) of the plate (10) which extends towards the well (20) and a fluid metering means comprising a lower metering means (50) on the rim (222) of the well (20) and an upper metering means (60) on the internal surface of said plate (10), wherein said upper metering means (60) and lower metering means (50) independently comprise at least one resilient strip (13). When said applicator (1) is in a closed state, the lower metering means (50) and the upper metering means (60) are substantially juxtaposed to provide said fluid metering means. |
| US08353301B2 |
Smoking articles having reduced carbon monoxide delivery
The present invention is directed to smoking articles having reduced carbon monoxide delivery are described. A carbon monoxide reducing agent is incorporated into the smoking article in order to reduce carbon monoxide levels in mainstream smoke. The carbon monoxide reducing agent may be, for instance, in metal oxide or in metal carbonate. The carbon monoxide reducing agent may be incorporated into a wrapper and/or into a column of smokable filler that are used to construct the smoking article. |
| US08353300B2 |
Sodium chloride spray treatment of soil surrounding tobacco plants to reduce TSNAs
Methods for increasing the concentration of antioxidants during senescence and curing of tobacco leaves include application of a chemical solution. The methods include spraying the solution onto the tobacco plant prior to harvest and/or applying the chemical solution to the soil surrounding roots of growing tobacco plants. The application of the chemical solution preferably occurs between topping and harvest, and is optimized to stimulate the production of antioxidants and interfere with the formation of TSNAs during curing. The tobacco can be burley tobacco subjected to air curing. |
| US08353296B1 |
Positive airway supply system to nasal cannula
A nasal cannula fitting, comprising in combination, a rigid plastic tubular first duct configured to directly endwise connect with apparatus assisting respiratory air, a relatively flexible plastic second duct fitting onto an end portion of the first duct, relatively flexible third plastic ducts integral with the second duct and diverging endwise therefrom to receive flow of the assistance air, and nasal cannula plastic tubing connected in series with the respective third ducts. Nasal prongs on the cannula tubing may carry pressure sealing toggling skirts. |
| US08353294B2 |
Respiratory mask assembly
A cushion for a respiratory mask assembly includes a breathing chamber forming portion and a face contacting portion formed in one piece of an elastomeric material, and a gusset portion including one or more folds. The breathing chamber forming portion includes a mask interior breathing chamber and the face contacting portion is structured to engage a patient's face. The gusset portion is structured to provide flexibility to the face contacting portion. The breathing chamber forming portion includes a front side of the mask and the face contacting portion includes a rear side of the mask. The breathing chamber forming portion, when provided to a mask frame, includes an exterior surface exposed at the front side of the mask. |
| US08353293B1 |
CPAP outlet vent gas diffuser
A CPAP vent diffuser adapted to effectively seal around a vent of a CPAP mask comprises a chamber of porous cloth that moderates air flow from the vent of CPAP machine by increasing in the chamber walls the area the air flow has to move through thus decreasing the speed of the air. |
| US08353292B2 |
Breathing assistance apparatus
A breathing assistance apparatus operates in alternating inhalation and expiratory phases wherein a) the control means of the apparatus include selection means capable of selecting a pressure parameter or a flow rate parameter to define; b) the reference value for the gas source, the selection means are controlled by an automatic control unit being: I) connected to pressure and flow rate sensors situated on the inhalation duct to form a direct closed regulation loop for selecting a reference value parameter, II) associated to a program allowing the selection to be made in real time from a pressure or flow rate signal, so that the association of a direct closed regulation circuit for the selection of a reference value parameter with a valve permitting proportional operation, allows real time control of barometric and volumetric operating modes, between and during the inhalation and expiratory phases. The invention also concerns associated operating processes. |
| US08353291B2 |
Systems and methods for compensating for pressure drop in a breathing assistance system
A breathing assistance system configured to determine pressure drop may include a gas delivery system configured to deliver gas toward a patient, one or more sensors configured to measure one or more parameters of gas delivered by the gas delivery system, a calibration module, and a pressure drop calculation module. The calibration module may be configured to perform one or more pressure drop calibration tests, each pressure drop calibration test measuring a pressure drop in gas flowing through a breathing assistance system apparatus at a particular flow rate; and based at least on the results of the one or more pressure drop calibration tests, generating a non-linear equation relating (a) pressure drop in gas flowing through the breathing assistance system apparatus with (b) flow rate of gas flowing through the breathing assistance system apparatus. The pressure drop calculation module may be configured to determine pressure drops in gas flowing through the breathing assistance system apparatus for various flow rates based at least on the non-linear equation. |
| US08353290B2 |
Compact continuous positive airway pressure apparatus and method
A compact continuous positive airway pressure apparatus and method provide a flatter profile and more compact thickness, including a larger lateral dimension in order to be accommodated in conventional luggage designed to stow laptop computers having a smaller aspect ratio of thickness to length or thickness to width. Air tubing may be coiled within a case or coiled as about a spool-like configuration in the base unit of the device. |
| US08353284B1 |
Self-contained solar heater and storage device
A solar water-heating apparatus comprises an outer container sized and configured to receive a smaller inner container. The inner container includes an opening formed in an upright wall and an opening formed in a floor. A gap is located between the two containers. Once the device has been filled with a liquid, the liquid present within the gap may be heated by solar energy. The device may include a valve to prevent unintended flow of the liquid. |
| US08353283B2 |
Gas catalytic combustion element and a gas powered heating device
A glue gun (10) comprising a body member (3) in which a glue accommodating and melting chamber (4) for receiving stick glue is formed and combustion chamber 910) is also formed for accommodating a gas catalytic combustion element (14). A temperature responsive valve (25) controls the supply of fuel gas to the combustion chamber 910) for maintaining the temperature of the body member (3) at approximately 140° C. A thermal mass (2) provided by a screw (27) is clamped onto a tab shaped portion (30) of the bas catalytic combustion element (14), and maintains the temperature of the tab shaped portion (30) above the ignition temperature of the gas catalytic combustion element (14) during periods of fuel gas interruption to the combustion chamber (10), so that when the temperature responsive valve (25) restores the supply of fuel gas, the tab shaped portion (30) immediately commences to convert fuel gas to heat by catalytic reaction, thus rapidly raising the temperature of the gas catalytic combustion element (14) to its ignition temperature. |
| US08353282B1 |
Disposable stove top cover
The present invention discloses a disposable stove top covering that is used to protect the surface of the stove top during cooking. The stove top covering is comprised of a substantially planar sheet of material that may have decorative indicia or graphic thereon, such indicia may include recipes, instructions and/or information, etc. The cover is designed to protect the stove top as well as absorb fluids, such as oil, sauce and water. A bottom fluid impervious layer protects the stove top while an absorbent layer retains any spills with the top layer having micro holes for fluids to pass through and retained thereby. Also provided is a lip passing around the periphery of the cover and each heating element to contain fluids and food particle on the disposable cover. |
| US08353280B2 |
Grill and method of use thereof
A grill comprising a front, a rear, a grill base, a grill lid and a grill door. The grill lid comprises an opening and is in hinged communication with the grill base. The grill door communicates with the grill lid via a hinge, which is disposed at a rear portion of the opening. When the grill door is closed, the grill door seals the opening in the grill lid. The grill lid includes a lifting-assist mechanism and the grill door has an opening-assist mechanism. A method of grilling comprising the steps of opening the grill lid, placing food on the grill base and closing the grill lid to cook food. The method further comprises the steps of opening the grill lid and the grill door during the cooking process, thereby creating a flue that urges smoke away from the front of the grill and towards the rear of the grill. |
| US08353278B2 |
Rotary stone cutting tool
A rotary stone cutting tool and method for making countertops and the like includes a shank shaped for detachable connection with a rotary drive. A cup-shaped cutting blade is mounted on the outer end of the shank, and has a frusto-conical sidewall and an outer marginal edge with axially protruding cutting teeth. A plurality of cutting pads are embedded in the sidewall and protrude radially outwardly therefrom. The blade is advanced through a stone slab with the sidewall oriented generally perpendicular to the face of the stone slab to cut an arcuate portion of an inside corner with reduced waste. |
| US08353277B2 |
Toy launcher for launching projectiles and methods thereof
A toy launcher that can house a substantially large amount (e.g., 40, 60, 100, 200, etc.) of projectiles along the length of a rotatable projectile feed assembly. During use, a user can cause rotatable projectile feed assembly to rotate about it own axis and can cause projectiles to advance from the rotatable projectile feed assembly to a projectile launch assembly. At the projectile launch assembly, projectiles interact with at least one accelerator launching the projectile out of the toy launcher. The accelerator can be at least one rotating body. |
| US08353276B2 |
System and method for storing crankcase gases to improve engine air-fuel control
A system and method for improving processing of gases contained within the crankcase of an internal combustion engine is presented. The system is especially suited for single boiling point fuels because it allows the storage of such fuels until the fuel can be opportunistically combusted. |
| US08353273B2 |
Method and system for correlating a pressure sensor for a fuel system
A control module and method for operating the same includes a diurnal control valve module that opens a diurnal control valve (DCV) and an evaporative leak check module (ELCM) diverter valve control module that switches on an ELCM diverter valve. The control module includes a correlation module performs a correlation of a ELCM pressure signal and a fuel tank pressure signal and that generates a fault signal in response to the correlation when the DCV valve is open and the ELCM diverter valve is on. |
| US08353271B2 |
Engine speed control system for work vehicle
An engine speed control system for a work vehicle is disclosed. Storage means (56) stores a predetermined engine speed. A manually operated input device (37, 38) issues an instruction to retrieve the engine speed from the storage means (56). Engine speed control means (50) executes a constant speed control, whereby the engine speed stored in the storage means (56) is set as a target speed on the basis of a first input operation made using the input device (37, 38). The engine speed control means (50) further executes a stored speed change control for allowing the setting of the engine speed stored in the storage means (56) to be changed based on a second, different input operation performed using the input device (37, 38). |
| US08353270B2 |
Fluid injection pressurization system
A system including, an internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber, a first injector to provide a first injection fluid to the combustion chamber, and a heated pressurization system to heat the first injection fluid in a pressure vessel to achieve a sufficient injection pressure. By heating the injection fluid in a pressure vessel, pressure in the vessel can be increased to a specified injection pressure. |
| US08353260B1 |
Combination feeder and pesticide applicator
A combination feeder and pesticide applicator for animals in which the animal receives an application of a pesticide when it manipulates the feeder. The feeder has a feeding compartment covered by a lid which can be selectively manipulated to expose food in the feeder. The lid has an applicator such as a cattle rub attached to it through a webbing weaved in and out of a plurality of slots on the lid. The ends of the webbing are clamped together. The ends of the cattle rub are also clamped to one another. A secondary attachment mechanism can be used to further secure the cattle rub to the lid, which prevents the animal from dislodging the cattle rub from the lid. |
| US08353255B2 |
Device for coating a substrate
By means of the device for coating a substrate (2; 102) according to the present invention, a homogeneous coating of the substrate (2; 102) can be achieved. The device comprises a holding and rotating means for holding and rotating the substrate (2; 102) about an axis (A). A disk (3) is provided below the substrate (2; 102). Said disk (3) is arranged coaxially with respect to the substrate (2; 102), has at least the same diameter as the substrate (2; 102) and is able to rotate synchronously with the substrate (2; 102). By means of the disk (3), air swirls at the edge of and below the substrate (2; 102) are avoided during coating of the substrate (2; 102). Thus, it is possible to obtain a homogeneous coating. For being able to load and unload a substrate (2; 102) into and out of the device by means of a conventional gripper system (6), the distance between substrate (2; 102) and disk (3) is increased during loading and unloading. |
| US08353252B1 |
Process for preparing a seam area for a PMC base fabric
A process for preparing a seam area for a PMC base fabric includes the steps of: providing a PMC base fabric including a plurality of warp yarns extending in a machine direction (MD) and a plurality of interwoven weft yarns extending in a cross machine direction (CD); removing a plurality of adjacent weft yarns from the PMC base fabric to define a window of warp yarns not interwoven with weft yarns, the plurality of warp yarns being interwoven with a plurality of weft yarns on either side of the window; folding over the PMC base fabric at the window such that each warp yarn substantially aligns with itself in the MD, and one or more weft yarns on one side of the window substantially align with a respective weft yarn on an opposite side of the window; and bonding together a portion of the PMC base fabric adjacent the window. |
| US08353251B2 |
Auxiliary table for sewing machine
An auxiliary table for a sewing machine includes a table body formed into a flat plate shape and including one or more rectangular portions, the table body having corners, an upper surface at an upper side in a direction of gravitational force and an underside at a lower side in the direction of gravitational force, a cloth-receiving member disposed on at least one corner of the table body so as to be located lower than the upper surface of the table body and configured to support the workpiece cloth when it is placed on the upper surface side of the table body and hanging downward from the table body, the cloth-receiving member having a receiving portion having an outer edge surrounding outer edges of the corners, and a supporting member supporting the cloth-receiving member so protrusion of the cloth-receiving member from an outer edge of the table body is changeable. |
| US08353250B2 |
Quilt blank, method of making a quilt using a quilt blank and quilt kit including quilt blank
The disclosure is directed to a quilt blank, a quilt kit including a quilt blank and method of making a quilt using a quilt blank. The disclosure describes a quilt blank including a partially completed quilt having a quilt top, backing and batting material interposed between the quilt top and the backing, all of which are secured together via a sewing or quilting pattern. The quilt top of the quilt blank includes at least one predetermined blank portion sized to receive a fabric swatch or other material selected by a user. Alternatively, the quilt blank may simply be a quilt top having a predetermined blank area to be filled with a fabric swatch or other material. The disclosure also describes a quilt kit including a quilt blank and a method of making a quilt using a quilt blank. |
| US08353249B2 |
Seed depositing device and method for depositing seeds
A seed depositing device designed to facilitate the uniform distribution of seeds during planting applications. The device includes a tubular outer shell having an open end and at least one opening along its length. An inner core is concentrically located in the outer shell and has at least one row of dimples along the length of an outer surface of the inner core for holding seeds. The inner core fits tightly enough in the outer shell to disallow free movement of the inner core within the outer shell. Rotation structure is provided for manually rotating the inner core relative to the outer shell. The inner core is rotatable by the rotation structure to align the at least one row of dimples with the at least one opening and expose the at least one row of dimples through the at least one opening. When the inner core is rotated so the openings of the outer shell are aligned with a row of dimples of the inner core, seeds are manually loaded into the exposed row of dimples through the openings of the outer shell. Each row of dimples is successively loaded in like manner until all dimples are loaded with seeds. A reversal of these steps is used to deposit the seeds onto a predetermined area. |
| US08353245B2 |
Line art transfer freehand colouring
In a line art transfer free hand colouring printing technique, a design outline is first generated on a transfer substrate using a glutinous ink and is then applied to a surface, for example the front of a T-shirt. A user then applies colouring and/or texturing in and/or around the design in accordance with personal choice to create an image and thereafter a finishing is applied. The finishing comprises a sheet releasably carrying decorative transfer elements which upon application to the image highlights the outline only, the remainder of the image remaining unaffected by the finishing. |
| US08353244B2 |
Integrated cleaning and cutting device
An integrated cleaning and cutting device includes a case, a cover sealed the case, a basket received in the case, and a basket shelter mounted on the basket. A plurality of palings is formed on the basket. A drive mechanism is accumulated in the cover for driving the basket to rotate in the case. A cutting mechanism is fitted in the cover for cutting salad material. The cutting mechanism includes a blanking hole communicating with the basket in the case. The salad material is cleaned in the basket by the rotating of the basket in the case. On the other hand, the salad material can be cut and stored in the device, in which the basket and the cutting mechanism are equipped. Since the device has multiple functions such as cleaning, cutting and storage, it is utilitarian in use. |
| US08353243B2 |
Frying pan
A frying pan having an arced opening for pouring out cooked stuff, which is formed to the extent of a peripheral portion of a flange that outwardly projects from a periphery of the pan side wall, and having a spill opening formed on at least one end of the flange by gradually narrowing the flange from the periphery of the side wall toward the end of the upper surface of the spill opening. |
| US08353242B2 |
Fryer
A fryer has an oil container, a rotatable cooking basket therein, and a body of oil in the container. The body of oil and a stream of air are heated, and the basket is positioned with the food therein at least partially above the body of oil so the heated air stream can circulate through the basket and air-cook the food. Cyclically the basket is at least partially immersed in the heated oil to also cook the food with the oil. |
| US08353241B1 |
Hydraulic cylinder cushion
A hydraulic cylinder cushion including a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and an inner chamber, a piston rod having a base, a cushion spear having a spear base, a shaft extending from the spear base, and a spearhead arranged opposite the spear base, the spearhead comprising a hemispherical portion connected to the shaft, wherein the hemispherical portion is diametrically larger than the shaft, and an end cap having a bore, wherein the end cap is secured to a first end of the cylinder such that the bore faces the inner chamber and is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis, the piston rod is slidingly arranged within the inner chamber along the longitudinal axis such that the base faces the end cap, the cushion spear is pivotably secured to the base of the piston rod and extends toward the bore, and the bore is adapted to receive the cushion spear therein. |
| US08353240B1 |
Compressible fluid filled micro-truss for energy absorption
A kinetic energy and blast energy absorbing material includes: a micro-truss structure including: a plurality of first struts extending along a first direction; a plurality of second struts extending along a second direction; and a plurality of third struts extending along a third direction; and a compressible fluid comprising a liquid or gel and a nanoporous material, wherein the micro-truss structure contains the compressible fluid. |
| US08353238B1 |
Blind-mating rocket launcher connector and protection system
A blind-mating rocket launcher connector and protection system having a connector, a floating connector member, a cam, a connector cover, and a linkage between the cam and connector cover whereby the connector may mate with a second connector when the cam is displaced despite misalignments between the first and second connector. For the preferred embodiment, the floating connector member has multiple degrees of freedom with a reduced diameter portion and a lengthwise key whereby the connector is capable of mating with an aerodynamic hood of a rocket. The preferred embodiment biases and closes the connector cover upon the connector prior to a plume of the rocket passes the connector whereby exposure of the connector to the deleterious effects of the plume are minimized. |
| US08353237B2 |
Cartridge for store ejection from aircraft
The present invention relates to the field of store ejection from aircraft. More specifically it relates to cartridges used in ejector release units for stores. The invention aims to provide a cartridge that can be used in existing ejector release units that overcomes some of the problems (such as; only a one-time use, the need for cleaning of ejector units, the erosion of ejector units and the need for a holder to be used) of pyrotechnic or hot gas cartridges but without compromising performance. The present invention provides a cartridge for use in an ejector release unit, the cartridge comprising a gas chamber for containing gas under pressure, an outlet of the gas chamber for releasing the compressed gas to drive a release mechanism in the ejector release unit, and a release valve associated with the outlet and arranged to be operable to open the outlet upon activation of a firing pin of an ejector release unit. An ejector release unit containing such a cartridge or pair of cartridges is also provided. |
| US08353236B2 |
Perforating equipment for continuous forms in movement
A perforating equipment (111) for continuous forms in movement comprises tree transversal perforating device (54, 56, 57) for executing transversal perforations on continuous forms (58) to be divided in three longitudinal sections and continuous forms to be divided in two longitudinal sections. Each perforating device includes a contrast member (61, 62, 79), a blade support mounting a blade (116a, 117a, 118a) for the three section form and a blade (116b, 117b, 118b) for the two section form, a blade servomechanism (73, 74, 85) and an activation group (104, 106, 107). The blade servomechanism rotates the blade support for a condition of interference of a blade in the position of perforation; and the activation group causes the contrast member to contrast a corresponding blade for the perforations of the forms to be divided into three sections, or the forms to be divided into two longitudinal sections. |
| US08353233B1 |
Meat cutting assembly
A cutting assembly for cutting a meat or food product passing along a path of travel and comprising a blade assembly including a cutting roller having a plurality of cutting blades radially mounted thereon and movable relative to the path of travel. A mating assembly interacts with the plurality of cutting blades to accomplish a multipoint cutting procedure which is facilitated by the concurrent rotation of the cutting roller and cutting blades as well as a linear reciprocal travel thereof transverse to the path of travel. A stabilizing assembly is provided to restrict the dimensional variance of the spacing between the cutting roller and mate roller through which the meat product travels and an ejecting assembly to remove cut portions from between the cutting blades and back onto the path of travel. The cutting assembly preferably includes a modular construction disposal within and removal from an operative position along a processing line associated with the path of travel. |
| US08353232B2 |
Device and method for braking a shaft of a microtome
The present invention relates to a device for braking or locking a shaft (6) of a microtome (1). The microtome (1) comprises the shaft (6), an actuating element (2), a movement mechanism (37) and a housing (38). With the movement mechanism (37) an object to be cut can be moved relative to a knife blade. The actuating element (2) can be manually actuated by an operator. As a result thereof, the shaft (6) can be rotated. Via the shaft (6), the movement mechanism (37) for performing the relative motion between the object and the knife blade can be driven. Further, the present invention relates to a method for operating a device for braking a shaft (6) of a microtome (1). So that the device can be used in a mechanically formed movement mechanism (37), the inventive device is characterized by an actuator and a braking unit (25). The braking unit (25) is connected in a rotatably fixed manner to the shaft (6). With the actuator, the braking unit (25) can be automatically placed in a brake position in which the shaft (6) can be connected in a rotatably fixed manner to the housing (11). |
| US08353230B2 |
Wrench with wrench head having a planar overhang
A wrench head having a jaw with jaw members having interior side faces and throat support surfaces defining an interior for mateably receiving a nut or bolt head. Extending from the top side of each jaw member and the top side of a handle connection portion and overhanging the interior defined by the interior side faces of the jaw members and throat support surfaces is a wrench head overhang, that, when placed over a nut or bolt head, is in contact with the top side of the bolt head or top side of the nut. The wrench head overhang serves to retain the wrench head over the nut or bolt head so that the wrench head cannot slip down off of the nut or bolt head. The overhang is dimensioned so as to that when the wrench of the present invention is used to rotate a nut that has been threaded on a bolt shaft, the bolt shaft will clear the sides of the overhang. |
| US08353229B1 |
Dual-head aligning wrench
A dual-head aligning wrench (10) (DHAW 10) that allows a single person to align, grip and attach two interfacing workpieces (130). The DHAW (10) consists of a first adjustable wrench (12) and a second adjustable wrench (74) that operate in combination to secure the workpieces (130). The first adjustable wrench (12) has a first wrench housing (14) that encloses a ratcheting mechanism (40), and a ratcheting handle (64) having a front end (68) that operates the ratcheting mechanism (40); a second adjustable wrench (74) having a second wrench housing (76) concentrically aligned with the first wrench housing (14). A fixed handle (94) is attached to the second wrench housing (76) and includes a post bore (98). The two wrench housings (14,76) are attached to each other by an anti-rotation post (100) having an upper end (102) attached to the first wrench housing (14) and a lower end (104) inserted into the post bore (98). The post (100) maintains the first wrench housing (14) in concentric alignment with the second wrench housing (76). |
| US08353226B2 |
Vehicle shift lever system and method
A shift lever assembly for a vehicle transmission can include an escutcheon body having a first guide rail and a second guide rail where the first and second guide rails are spaced apart from each other and are substantially parallel to each other. A slider body can be provided and can be movable with respect to the escutcheon body and include at least one spring member. The at least one spring member can include a contact structure, and a compression force can be applied via the contact structure to maintain the contact structure in compression with the guide rails. |
| US08353225B2 |
Actuator
An actuator has a frame and a slider body which are both made of extruded shapes of light-metal alloy. A first rail member is fastened to the frame by means of a simple construction. An upper sealing member is placed between the frame and the slider body. With the actuator constructed as stated earlier, the frame is an elongated extrusion of U-shape in transverse section whose side walls have first recesses of dovetail configuration to fit over first rail members and flanges. A slider has therein the slider body having second recesses of rectangular shape to fit over second rail members. There is further provided a driving unit to force the slider with respect to the frame. The first rail members each have the wedged configuration including tapered contours and dents, while the second rail members each have the rectangular shape. |
| US08353220B2 |
Method for determining the viscosity of a medium with a Coriolis mass flowmeter
A method for determining the viscosity of a medium with a Coriolis mass flowmeter, wherein the Coriolis mass flowmeter has at least two measuring tubes that medium can flow through and a measuring device, wherein the measuring device has at least two actuator assemblies, wherein a measuring tube plane is defined by the measuring tube central axis and wherein the actuator assemblies are arranged on both sides of the measuring tube plane and outside of the measuring tube plane. Elaborate constructional measures for the Coriolis mass flowmeter are avoided by the measuring tubes being excited with a measuring device to at least oppositely directed torsion oscillation (and optionally additionally to plane oscillation) with the actuator assemblies being alternately actuated with opposing effective directions so that at least the viscosity of the medium is determined by evaluation of values from the measuring device. |
| US08353217B2 |
Test machine to apply a uniform internal pressure to a tube
This machine comprises a central body (1), un piston (3) compressing the liquid contained in a liner (2), and a peripheral bladder (18) capable of uniformly applying pressure to a tube (21) immediately surrounding this bladder. Pressure can be applied in a simple manner through a tensile and compression testing machine (22, 23). No end effect that could disturb the test is produced on the tube. |
| US08353209B1 |
Radio frequency tank eigenmode sensor for propellant quantity gauging
A method for measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank may include the steps of selecting a match between a measured set of electromagnetic eigenfrequencies and a simulated plurality of sets of electromagnetic eigenfrequencies using a matching algorithm, wherein the match is one simulated set of electromagnetic eigenfrequencies from the simulated plurality of sets of electromagnetic eigenfrequencies, and determining the fill level of the tank based upon the match. |
| US08353207B2 |
Fluid meter
A fluid meter is described having multiple pistons and connecting rods that are connected to the crankshaft by one common crankpin that is radially offset from the crankshaft such that an axis through the endpoints of the yoke slot of one connecting rod forms an angle alpha with the alignment axis of the two axially aligned cylinders, and that an axis through the endpoints of the yoke slot of the other connecting rod forms another, different angle beta with said alignment axis, so that the corresponding pistons reciprocate out of phase. |
| US08353202B2 |
Exhaust diagnostic systems and methods with SCR conversion efficiency monitor disabling
A diagnostic control module includes a temperature gradient module. The temperature gradient module determines a temperature gradient across a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst of an exhaust system of an engine based on a plurality of temperature signals. A calibration module determines a weighted average based on the plurality of temperature signals. A SCR efficiency control module disables conversion efficiency monitoring based on the temperature gradient and the weighted average. |
| US08353201B2 |
Intake air temperature rationality diagnostic
A method of determining whether a fault condition of an intake air temperature (IAT) sensor of an engine is present includes estimating a first manifold absolute pressure (MAP) based on a previously estimated first MAP and an estimated first mass air flow (MAF) as a function of the previously estimated first MAP and estimating a second MAP based on a previously estimated second MAP and a currently measured MAF. An IAT difference is determined based on the first MAP and the second MAP. Whether the fault condition of the IAT sensor is present is determined based on the IAT difference. |
| US08353200B2 |
Arrangement and process for the detection of the sharpness of chopper knives
An arrangement for detection of the sharpness of chopper knives that can be moved relative to a shear bar includes a sensor that detects the effective cutting forces directly or indirectly and an evaluation arrangement connected to the sensor. The evaluation arrangement integrates the measured values of the sensor over time in order to generate information concerning the sharpness of the chopper knives. |
| US08353199B1 |
Multi-degree-of-freedom test stand for unmanned air vehicles
The invention is a multiple degree-of-freedom test stand for unmanned air vehicles, and is particularly useful for small or micro unmanned air vehicles. The stand is gravity balanced using springs such that no weight of any part of the stand becomes a burden to the tested vehicle when it flies while constrained to the stand. A joint and a plurality of members are used to enable multiple degrees of freedom. |
| US08353197B2 |
Differential comparative pressure monitoring system
A differential comparative pressure monitoring system (10) for monitoring the structural integrity of a structure (30) has a pressure source (12); a first fluidic circuit (14), and a reference fluidic circuit (16) which are connected in parallel to the pressure source (12); and a monitoring device (18). The first and reference fluidic circuits (14) and (16) have substantially matched characteristics. The first circuit (14) has a sensor element (20) which is sealed to a surface (28) on the structure (30). The reference circuit (16) is in fluidic isolation from the surface (28) of the structure (30). The monitoring device (18) takes simultaneous measurements of a common fluidic characteristic of the circuits (14) and (16), and produces a signal indicative the integrity of the structure based on a difference between the simultaneously measured common characteristic. |
| US08353196B2 |
Gas-mixture-nonuniformity acquisition apparatus and gas-mixture-state acquisition apparatus for internal combustion engine
In a gas-mixture-nonuniformity acquisition apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the nonuniformity of fuel concentration within a gas mixture is acquired under the assumption that, in a process in which a cylinder interior gas taken into a combustion chamber of the engine and fuel injected into the combustion chamber mix together to form a gas mixture, a collision reaction repeatedly takes place within the gas mixture in such a manner that, due to collision of two gas volumes having different fuel mass ratios, respective portions of the two gas volumes mix together, and the mixed portions separate from the corresponding gas volumes and form a portion or the entirety of another gas volume having a fuel mass ratio different from those of the two gas volumes. |
| US08353194B2 |
Indirect determination of the waste gas rate for metallurgical process
A method for the indirect determination of the waste gas rate in metallurgical processes. A reference gas such as helium is first added to the waste gas, specifically at a time which, with respect to flow, sufficiently precedes the taking of a sample such that a thorough mixing of the reference gas and waste gas is carried out, i.e., a virtually homogeneous distribution is achieved, and a quantitative helium analysis and nitrogen analysis of the waste gas, measured by a mass spectrometer, is carried out while taking into account the added amount of helium. |
| US08353191B2 |
Cooling device and cooling method for hot strip
A cooling device and cooling method for a hot-rolled strip in which the strip can be uniformly cooled from a leading edge to a trailing edge with coolant by properly realizing a great cooling ability and a stable cooling zone. |
| US08353188B1 |
Childproof deadbolt
The childproof deadbolt includes a standard deadbolt with a thumb turn wherein a childproofing mechanism is integrated into the design of the thumb turn. The childproofing mechanism consists of at least one spring-loaded push button that when depressed engages an internal gear in rotational connection with the deadbolt. Absent depression of said push button the thumb turn is free to rotate independent of the internal gear and the deadbolt. |
| US08353180B2 |
Refrigerating apparatus
An on-off valve (70) is provided in an oil feed path (43). When liquid refrigerant enters the oil feed pipe (43) from the oil separator (22), the temperature of the liquid refrigerant whose pressure has been reduced in the on-off valve (70) dramatically decreases. When the amount of such a decrease in temperature detected by a temperature sensor (73) exceeds a specified amount, it is determined that the liquid refrigerant enters the oil feed pipe (43), and the on-off valve (70) is closed. |
| US08353172B2 |
Control device, method, and program of permanent-magnet type synchronous motor
There is provided a control device of a permanent-magnet type synchronous motor that sets a synchronous operation current at start-up in response to a current limiting value determined from the temperature of an inverter that supplies three-phase power to the permanent-magnet type synchronous motor, that monitors an output voltage or an output current of the inverter during a rotation stabilizing period after start-up, and that updates the synchronous operation current using this output voltage or output current. |
| US08353170B2 |
Absorption heat pump systems and methods for improving energy grade of low temperature waste heat
An absorption heat pump system and a method for increasing the energy grade using the excess heat at a low temperature are provided. The absorption heat pump system comprises a heat pump generator (11), a heat pump condenser (12), a heat pump evaporator (13), a heat pump absorber (14), and an absorbent crystallizer (141). The absorbent crystallizer (141) has an inlet for the absorption solution, an outlet for the absorption solution and an outlet for the absorption solution containing absorbent crystals; The inlet for the absorption solution connects to the heat pump absorber (14), The outlet for the absorption solution connects to the heat pump generator (11), The outlet for the absorption solution containing absorbent crystals connects to the heat pump absorber (14). The absorption heat pump system can further comprise absorption refrigeration circulation subsystem, and the cooling medium produced by the refrigeration evaporator circulates between the refrigeration evaporator and the heat pump condenser. The method for increasing the energy grade using the heat at a low temperature utilizes the excess heat at a low temperature as driving heat source, and obtains the heat with high energy grade in the heat pump absorber (14). |
| US08353169B2 |
Supersonic cooling system
A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because the supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use of a condenser. The compression system utilizes a compression wave. An evaporator of the compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure. |
| US08353164B2 |
Gas turbine engine having slim-line nacelle
A gas turbine engine system includes nacelle, a first boundary layer control device, a second boundary layer control device, at least one sensor, and a controller. The nacelle is defined about an axis and includes an inlet lip section, an inlet internal diffuser section, and a variable area fan nozzle moveable to influence a discharge airflow area of the nacelle. The first boundary layer control device is positioned near the inlet lip section and is actuable to introduce a first airflow at the inlet lip section. The second boundary layer control device is positioned near the inlet internal diffuser section and is actuable to introduce a second airflow at the inlet internal diffuser section. The sensor produces a signal that represents an operability condition. The controller receives the signal and simultaneously moves the variable area fan nozzle and actuates the first boundary layer control device and the second boundary layer control device in response to receiving the signal to achieve a slim-line nacelle. |
| US08353159B2 |
Combustion engine with heat recovery system
An internal combustion engine has at least two double action internal combustion cylinders and a separate double action compressor cylinder. Each double action internal combustion cylinder has a multi-point ignition system for each combustion chamber for causing multiple flame fronts to cause the fuel/air mixture to burn more quickly. Furthermore, the engine has a closed heat recovery system that takes heat from the exhaust of the internal combustion cylinder system and delivers power to a crankshaft. Accordingly, the internal combustion engine has increased efficiency by minimizing friction and extracting energy from multiple sources. |
| US08353158B2 |
Turbocharger bearing assembly and lubrication thereof
A turbocharger bearing housing defines a bore in which the turbocharger shaft is mounted for rotation in journal bearings. Lubricating oil is delivered to the journal bearings and a residue is retained in reservoirs in which the journal bearings are located. Two fluid retaining members are disposed around the shaft, each forming a wall of the reservoir and being sealed to the bearing housing. The lubricating fluid reservoir is provided between the fluid retaining members to a depth that at least partially immerses the journal bearings even when the oil supply is interrupted. This ensures that there is sufficient oil to lubricate the bearings at engine start-up, thereby reducing the risk of wear. |
| US08353157B2 |
Open center hydraulic system
An open center hydraulic system that includes a variable displacement pump having an inlet, an outlet and a sensing port, the pump configured to provide reduced fluid flow in response to a predetermined fluid pressure differential between the outlet and the sensing port. A first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit each serve as signal lines with the pump sensing port. During operation of the second fluid circuit, reduced fluid flow from the pump outlet is achieved as a result of the sum of induced fluid pressure reductions of respective controlled pressure reduction devices approaching the predetermined pump fluid pressure differential. |
| US08353150B2 |
Fuel nozzle to withstand a flameholding incident
A nozzle is provided and includes an outer annulus defined by an exterior wall and an interior wall and including air inlets through which air flows to a fuel mixing zone and a combustion zone, an inner annulus disposed within the interior wall and including a fuel volume into which fuel is fed to a distal end thereof, which is adjacent to and isolated from the combustion zone and an airflow line, disposed between the fuel volume and the interior wall, through which air flows to the combustion zone with the airflow line and the combustion zone isolated from the fuel volume, and a fuse configured to melt during a flameholding incident and to form a breach through which fuel flows from the fuel volume, bypassing the fuel mixing zone, to a fuel burning zone downstream from the fuel mixing zone. |
| US08353145B2 |
Capping machine
A capping machine (1) of carousel design comprises a centre shaft (2) turning on a fixed base frame (3) about a vertical axis of rotation (Y), a set of capping units (4) encircling and revolving as one with the shaft (2) about the axis of rotation (Y), and a cylindrical cam (5) interposed between the shaft (2) and the capping units (4), by which the single units (4) are caused to move toward and away from the fixed base frame (3). During operation, the cam (5) is held in at least one predetermined fixed position relative to the base frame (3) by a single supporting element (6) anchored to the base frame (3), concealed internally of the rotating shaft (2) and connected to the cam (5), which represents a departure from the conventional method of supporting the cam on two or more columns located externally of the carousel structure and exposed to view. |
| US08353144B2 |
Prefabricated composite wall panel and method and apparatus for manufacture and installation thereof
A prefabricated composite wall panel has a desired exterior finish defined by thin finish elements of brick, stone or any other suitable material and is adapted for mounting to the wall structure of a building framework by screws or other suitable fasteners. During panel manufacture thin wall finish elements are positioned at predetermined sites within the mold and aligned by alignment members in a pattern defining grout spaces. A grout placement screed having multiple holes arranged in a desired mortar pattern is positioned on the thin finish elements and pulverulent grout is deposited through the holes of the screed and into spaces between the finish elements. After removal of the screed the pulverulent grout is compacted and a liquid uncured polymeric mixture is applied as a contiguous substrate to the back surface of the panel and serves to retain the masonry elements and grout in place and to provide a moisture and air barrier that minimizes the potential for leakage or wicking of water or air infiltration through assembled panels of a wall structure. Finished panels having empty filler element spaces at side edges thereof are fixed to a wall or wall framework of a building with straight edges in abutment and filler elements are positioned to cover joints between the panels. |
| US08353142B2 |
System and method for sealing sump covers
Disclosed is a system and method for sealing containment sumps used in connection with underground storage tanks. A sump cover sealing system includes an expansion ring assembly adapted to affix to the interior of the sump, and to fastenably attach with the sump cover to removably seal the sump cover to the sump. A contraction band assembly is also provided to affix to the exterior of the sump opposite the expansion ring assembly. Methods of using the system are described. A sump cover with an observation portal is provided. |
| US08353135B2 |
Seismic structural device
A pin-fuse frame used in a frame assembly that may be subject to extreme seismic loading. The pin-fuse frame includes of columns, beams, plate assemblies that extend between columns and beams, and may included a diagonal brace. The plate assemblies are fixed to the columns and attached to the beams and brace via pin joints. A joint includes a pin connection through outer connection plates connected to a column and inner connection plates connected to a beam. Connecting rods positioned about the pin maintain a coefficient of friction until exposed to extreme seismic activity, at which time the joint accommodates a slippage of at least one of the inner and outer connection plates relative to each other rotationally about the pin. The diagonal brace is separated into two segments connected together with connection plates. These connection plates accommodate a slippage of the segments relative to each other. |
| US08353132B1 |
Method and apparatus for erection and disassembly of a sectional mast assembly
A method and an apparatus for a sectional mast assembly for erection and disassembly of a rig. The sectional mast assembly includes a bottom section having at least a back and a pair of opposed sides with each of the opposed sides having at least one pivoting ratchet support. A scoping dog assembly is moveable on a track on the bottom section. The scoping clog assembly includes wheels which engage the track and a pivoting ratchet support. A cylinder extends between the bottom section and the scoping dog assembly to move the scoping dog assembly on the track. The pivoting ratchet support of the scoping dog assembly engages each of the mast sections in sequence to raise the entire mast assembly. |
| US08353125B2 |
Method of adjustably mounting a device to a firearm rail interface and mounting apparatus therefor
A mounting apparatus and method for adjustably mounting, for example, an optical device to a rail interface of a firearm. The apparatus includes a base, a ring assembly configured to surround and grip the device, and at least two spacer members configured to be disposed and secured between the base and ring assembly. The ring assembly includes ring segments, a mechanism for securing the ring assembly to the base, and a mechanism for securing the ring segments together to grip the device therebetween. One of the ring segments has a support surface having a shape complementary to a support surface of the base. The spacer members are configured to be secured between the base and ring assemblies, and each spacer member has oppositely-disposed support surfaces configured to complementarily engage the support surface of either the base or ring assembly. |
| US08353124B1 |
Thixotropic molded barrel for firearm
A barrel for a firearm is formed of a tube surrounded by a shroud. The shroud is formed of a thixotropic alloy injection molded over the tube using a thixotropic molding process. The tube defines the firearm's bore and may be rifled. |
| US08353118B2 |
Peat moss harvesting apparatus and method
A peat moss harvesting apparatus includes a conveyor mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is guided through a peat moss bed to cut a section of peat moss. The section of peat moss is progressively loaded onto the conveyor mechanism as the section of peat moss is being cut. |
| US08353116B2 |
Sandal with adjustable straps and interchangeable mix and match straps and insoles
A sandal which includes two molded plates which releasably lock together. The underside of the male plate contains a male lock, and its front and rear underside contain the reciprocal fasteners to secure the straps. The superior aspect of the female plate contains the reciprocal “female” releasable locking mechanism for the male lock. After the straps are secured on the male plate it is inserted and releasably locked when the underside lock of the male plate enters the superior lock of the female plate embedded in a base style (heel, flat or wedge). When the male plate with straps is the top layer its underside is the lock and its superior side is the contact support for the foot. The male plate functions as a middle lock if an insole is inserted under the straps and its underside is removably secured to a superior aspect of a male plate with a choice of hook and loop fastener. The insole becomes the final layer which hides the shoes components and provides the contact support for the foot. |
| US08353113B2 |
Drying device
A drying device including: a travelling unit and a drying unit. The travelling unit transports a sheet-like substrate in a travelling direction. The sheet-like substrate includes a thin film body wherein at least one surface of the thin film body is coated with a coating material including an active material. The drying unit dries the thin film body. The drying unit includes a radiative heater and a first nozzle. The radiative heater irradiates an infrared ray to a to-be-dried surface of the thin film body. The first nozzle blows a dry air to the to-be-dried surface in a direction opposite to the travelling direction of the sheet-like substrate. |
| US08353110B2 |
Motorized saw and clamping element
A motorized saw has a guide rail which is arranged on at least one clamping stud and can be clamped in place between two bearing surfaces by clamping means. A clamping element is provided which is arranged on the clamping stud and in a locating opening of the guide rail and which fixes the guide rail in at least one radial direction of the clamping stud in the clamped state. A clamping element has at least one clamping surface which is formed at an end face of the clamping element and which encloses an angle of less than 90° with the longitudinal center axis of an opening of the clamping element. |
| US08353104B2 |
Manufacturing method of conducting wire terminal
A method of manufacturing a conducting wire terminal includes the steps of: preparing a strip tube of a predetermined length; boring both ends of the strip tube separately, such that a body is formed between both ends of the strip tube and has a diameter smaller than both ends of the strip tube, and the copper sleeve is accommodated in the body; and compressing an intersection of both ends of the strip tube and the body, such that a circular tapered neck is formed at the intersection of both ends of the strip tube and the body, and a circular slanting guide surface is formed separately on opposite internal surface of each tapered neck of the strip tube. |
| US08353103B2 |
Manufacturing method of multilayer printed wiring board
A method of manufacturing multilayer printed wiring hoard in which electric connectivity and functionality are obtained by improving reliability and particularly, reliability to the drop test can be improved. In the inventive method, no corrosion resistant layer is formed on a solder pad on which a component is to be mounted so as to obtain flexibility. Thus, if an impact is received from outside when a related product is dropped, the impact can be buffered so as to protect any mounted component from being removed. On the other hand, a land in which the corrosion resistant layer is formed by the method is unlikely to occur contact failure even if a carbon pillar constituting an operation key makes repeated contacts. |
| US08353101B2 |
Method of making substrate package with through holes for high speed I/O flex cable
An assembly of substrate packages interconnected with flex cables and a method of fabrication of the substrate package. The assembly allows input/output (I/O) signals to be speedily transmitted between substrate packages via flex cable and without being routed through the motherboard. Embodiments relate to a substrate package providing separable inter-package flex cable connection. Hermetically-sealed guiding through holes are provided on the substrate package as a mechanical alignment feature to guide connection between flex cables and high speed I/O contact pads on the substrate package. Embodiments of the method of fabrication relate to simultaneously forming hermetically-sealed guiding through holes and I/O contact pads. |
| US08353099B2 |
Insertion aid for loading needle boards
An insertion arrangement (20) is provided to make it easier for an operator to insert several needles (41, 44) clamped in a multiple clamping chuck (40), even in the case of certain positional deviations, simultaneously in the associate bores (11) of a needle board (10). The insertion arrangement (20) comprises a guide section (32) with many parallel grooves (51) that are arranged at the distance of the bores (11), and that, respectively, can accommodate the tip (45) of a needle (41, 44) and can guide said tip to the associate bore (11). In so doing, the grooves (51) help align the individual needles (41, 44) with respect to the bores (11) in that the grooves correct potential positional deviations by slightly bending the needles (41, 44). The insertion arrangement (20) is mounted to an automatic loading machine (1) and can be adjusted and locked relative to a needle board (10) accommodated in the automatic loading machine. |
| US08353095B2 |
Self feeding drill press lathe attachment
The present invention provides a self feeding drill press lathe attachment designed for rotating a workpiece along a horizontal axis to remove material from the workpiece to form it into a desired shape. The drill press lathe attachment comprises a base and a power transfer box along with components commonly found on a lathe, but without a motor. The drill press lathe attachment, or “motorless” lathe, may be mounted directly to the bed of an existing drill press thereby providing an alternative means of achieving turning operations without needing a traditional motor driven lathe. |
| US08353088B2 |
Shoelace tightening device
A shoelace tightening device. A housing has a base plate affixed to the tongue of a shoe, and a side wall formed on the base plate. A rotation member has a rotator seated on the side wall of the housing and formed with a ratchet gear on its inner surface, and a bobbin formed on the lower surface of the rotator. A cover is placed on the ratchet gear. A stopper has a head which can slide on the cover, a bridge which extends downward from the head, and a pawl member which is formed on the lower end of the bridge. A coupling shaft is coupled to the base plate and has a stopper housing. The pawl member is received in the stopper housing. A spring is interposed between the inner surface of the stopper housing and an end of the pawl member. |
| US08353083B2 |
Tilt mechanism for electronic device
An electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing covering the first housing, and two tilt mechanisms. Each of the tilt mechanisms includes a connecting rod, a first hinge bar, a second hinge bar, and a resilient element. The connecting rod is hinged to the first housing and the second housing. A first end of the first hinge bar is hinged to the first housing. A first end of the second hinge bar is hinged to the second housing. The resilient element is fixed on a second end of the first hinge bar and the second hinge bar. |
| US08353079B2 |
Elevator hoistway door closer
Elevator hoistway door closer device that increases the closing force on the door as the door approaches the door closed position. A elevator hoistway door closer includes a reel having a groove in its side that terminates in a flat edge beyond a breakover angle. The groove may have a first portion of essentially constant diameter and a second portion having a conical helix shape. The third portion includes the breakover angle and may terminate in a flat edge. There may be an elongate tensile element received by the first and second portions and the third portion defined by the breakover angle flat edge, and that has a free end for attachment to a fixed point. There may be a spring for rotating the reel and attracting the elongate tensile element by wrapping the elongate tensile element around the first and second portions of the channel and over the breakover angle and flat edge of the third portion. |
| US08353075B2 |
Oral care implement
An oral care implement or toothbrush includes a head, tooth cleaning elements and tissue cleansing elements. The tooth cleaning elements may be provided on a first face of the toothbrush head while the tissue cleansing elements may be disposed on a second face of the head. The head may further include one or more splits that provide flexible and non-flexible regions. Various configurations of splits may be used to create different effects such as more responsive flexion, regions of differing flexibility and/or different degree of flexion. |
| US08353069B1 |
Device for heating, cooling and emitting fragrance into bedding on a bed
A device for heating, cooling and emitting fragrance into bedding on a mattress of a bed which comprises a vented bladder placed upon the mattress under the bedding of the bed. A mechanism is for producing forced air being hot/cool and scented. A flexible air hose extends between the vented bladder and the forced air producing mechanism, to carry the hot/cool and scented air from the forced air producing mechanism to the vented bladder and into the bedding. |
| US08353065B1 |
Configurable body armor
A body armor system has a left vest section connected to a right vest section and has a front plate carrier which is alternatively mounted with a buckle at either the right shoulder or the left shoulder. The front plate carrier has identical straps terminated by patches of hook and loop fastener material. One strap is passed through a loop on the rear of the front plate carrier and mounts one part of a buckle, the other part of the buckle is mounted on a hook and loop fastener strap which is affixed to a shoulder element, thus permitting the system to be reconfigured for left- or right-handed users. U-shaped ballistic inserts are received in mating pockets in each vest section. A laced cord which joins the rear segments of the vest sections is held in place by a cord restraint member which defines a loop for each cord crossing. |
| US08356361B2 |
Secure co-processing memory controller integrated into an embedded memory subsystem
An architecture is presented that facilitates integrated security capabilities. A memory module is provided that comprises non-volatile memory that stores security software and a security processor that accesses the security software from the nonvolatile memory and performs security functions based on the security software stored. Further, a host processor located outside of the memory module arbitrates with the security processor for access to the non-volatile memory. The memory module in communication with the host processor establishes a heightened level of security that can be utilized in authentication services and secure channel communications. |
| US08356359B2 |
Licensing rights for media content that follows a subscriber
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable medium providing licensing rights for media content that follows a subscriber so that the subscriber may experience the media content on various content distribution platforms. In particular embodiments, the systems, methods, and computer-readable medium transfer licensing rights for a user for particular media content that is associated with a first device on a first distribution platform so that the rights are associated with a second device on a second distribution platform. As a result, in various embodiments, the user is able to experience the particular media content with the use of the second device on the second distribution platform. |
| US08356358B2 |
Preventing information leakage between components on a programmable chip in the presence of faults
Mechanisms are provided to prevent information leakage between components implemented on a programmable chip such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). An automated routing algorithm is effective at enforcing security restrictions with minimal input form the user while providing efficient utilization of the device. Compatible sets of signals are identified and locked, and reservations of routing resources are generated. Remaining signals are rerouted until all signal constraints are met. Specified security constraints with one or more security levels and one or more secure regions may be applied through iterations of the automated routing mechanism. |
| US08356357B1 |
Detecting tainted documents by tracking transformed confidential data
Tainted files suspected to contain confidential data that are inaccessible to Data Loss Prevention (DLP) applications are detected and tracked on computers. An access detection module detects that an application has accessed a file that contains confidential information. A transformation detection module that the application wrote a transformed file that contains content inaccessible to the DLP application, where the transformed file is suspected to contain at least a portion of the confidential information. A signature module generates a signature for the transformed file containing the inaccessible content. The signature is stored in a signature database containing a plurality of signatures of transformed files. A comparison module compares the signature generated to files transmitted via a network, wherein the transmitted files contain content inaccessible to the DLP application. A transformed file detection module detects that matched file is the transformed file in response to a comparison indicating that the signature matches a file transmitted via the network. |
| US08356352B1 |
Security scanner for user-generated web content
User-generated web content is received prior to posting by a client system, such as a web content hosting system. The user-generated web content is executed in a virtual environment and monitored for malicious behavior. Execution of the web content in the virtual environment forces code in the web content to run such that the actions the code takes, especially malicious behavior, are not obfuscated. If malicious behavior is detected, the user-generated web content is blocked from posting to the web content hosting system. Alternatively, when malicious behavior is not detected, the user-generated web content is permitted to be posted to the web content hosting system. |
| US08356350B2 |
Method and system for managing denial of service situations
For managing denial of service situations at an application level in a communications network receiving message data, the message data are monitored in a sensor that sends an event message when detecting an alarm condition; a control logic detects a first analysis to be performed associated with the received event message and generates a request; an analysis module receives the request of analysis, performs the analysis and sends a result message; the control logic receives the result message and detects an action to be taken associated with the result message, the action being a countermeasure or a further analysis. For determining the analysis to be performed and the action to be taken, the control logic browses rules stored in a memory, each rule including a conditional clause and an associated action to be taken. |
| US08356342B2 |
Method and system for issuing a kill sequence for a token
An embodiment relates generally to a method of managing a token. The method includes marking a token to be killed and detecting a presence of the token. The method also includes disabling the token in response to the marking of the token. |
| US08356341B2 |
Life cycle management of authentication rules for service provisioning
Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for providing authentication for service provisioning. At least a first and a second executable authentication rule are provided. One or both of the first and second executable authentications are for determining access by a user to a service. The first executable authentication rule is selected when a lifecycle state associated with the user is in a first state. The second executable authentication rule is selected when the lifecycle state is in a second state. A rules credential is generated. The rules credential includes the selected executable authentication rule. |
| US08356338B1 |
Wireless drive file peering
A configuration message is received from a first computer system. In response to the configuration message, a first wireless device is enumerated on the first computer system as locally attached mass storage. A registration message is sent to a wireless network. File information about a shared file is received from a second wireless device. The second wireless device is enumerated on a second computer system as locally attached mass storage. A shared block of data is received from the second wireless device. The shared block of data is sent to the first computer system as data that is stored on a locally attached mass storage device. |
| US08356337B2 |
Electronic permission slips for controlling access to multimedia content
An administrator controls viewer access to restricted multimedia programs using electronic permission slips. In response to a viewer's request to view a restricted multimedia program, the viewer may initiate the generation of an electronic permission slip that is sent to an electronic device associated with the administrator. The electronic permission slip may include text-based information, graphical information, audio information, and the like. The electronic permission slip may enable input of permission data regarding whether the viewer is allowed to receive the blocked program. In response to the administrator granting permission, a service provider network allows the viewer to access the restricted multimedia program. |
| US08356336B2 |
System and method for double-capture/double-redirect to a different location
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a system, method, and computer program product for providing network access control for a shared network. One embodiment of a network access controller may intercept a request to access a network resource from a browser application running on a client device associated with an anonymous user and determine whether the network resource is in a set of network destinations in the shared network. If the network resource is in the set of network destinations, the network access controller may direct the browser application to the network resource. If the network resource is not in the set of network destinations, the network access controller may redirect the browser application to a pre-authentication capture destination in the shared network. From the pre-authentication capture destination the anonymous user is free to visit any of the set of network destinations in the shared network without authentication. |
| US08356335B2 |
Techniques for authentication via network connections
Techniques for authenticating network connections are provided. A client makes a request to connect to a server via a client service. The server delays the request to acquire a signature for the client service from the requesting client's environment. The signature is compared against a known and previously verified signature. When the two signatures match, the server permits the connection between the client and the service via the client service. When the two signatures do not match, the server denies the connection between the client and the server and does not permit the client service to process a request to make that connection. |
| US08356334B2 |
Data network node having enhanced security features
An apparatus and methods for securely forwarding data packets at a data switching node in a data transport network is provided. The data switching node maintains a switching database of switching entries. Each switching entry has a modification protection feature preventing its modification when activated. Dynamic topology discovery of data network nodes can be disabled via topology discovery control flags associated with individual physical communications ports of the data switching node. Unknown destination flood data traffic is not replicated to physical communications ports having topology discovery disabled or specifying the suppression of replication of such unknown destination data traffic thereto. The advantages are derived from a data switching node being enabled to operate concurrently in friendly and hostile environments while detecting, preventing and reporting incidences of hostile MAC ADDR attacks. |
| US08356333B2 |
System and method for verifying networked sites
A system and method for indicating to a user that a networked site is authentic includes a verification application configured to send a request to verify the authenticity of the networked site together with identity information about the site to a verification server. The verification application has access to encrypted user-customized information that was previously selected by a user and is encrypted and stored focally on the end-user device. The verification server verifies whether the networked site is authentic and is further configured to enable decryption of the encrypted user-customized information when a networked site is verified as authentic, so that the user-customized information can be presented to the user. |
| US08356332B2 |
Extensible protocol validation
A method comprises operations for receiving a binary data structure including a portion representing a protocol validation specification expressed in a respective protocol validation specification language and for receiving a security policy rule having an action part specifying that the binary data structure is to be used for verifying that application protocol payload of network packets complies with the protocol validation specification. After receiving the binary data structure and the security policy rule, an operation is performed for verifying that application protocol payload of received network packets complies with the protocol validation specification. Such verifying is initiated in response to determining that the security policy rule applies to the received network packets and such verifying includes validating the application protocol payload of the received network packets against the binary data structure. |
| US08356331B2 |
Packet structure for a mobile display digital interface
A packet structure for a Mobile Display Digital Interface (MDDI) includes a flexible sub-frame length to efficiently transmit large packets. A windowless video stream packet avoids repetitive transmissions of video packets when some parameters are unchanged, saving bandwidth. An enhanced reverse encapsulation packet combines the feature of a separate round trip delay packet with a separate reverse encapsulation packet. A link freeze is used to halt a transmission of a data stream at any point in the transmission and resume the transmission by a host. |
| US08356330B2 |
Channel entry system and method
An exemplary channel entry device comprises a SUBCHANNEL button. The exemplary channel entry device further comprises an OK button, and wherein the channel entry device is adapted to receive a subchannel selection after the SUBCHANNEL button is pressed and to thereafter transmit the subchannel selection to an associated electronic device when either the OK button or the SUBCHANNEL button is pressed. |
| US08356329B2 |
Method and apparatus for interaction with hyperlinks in a television broadcast
A system and method for adding hyperlinked information to a television broadcast in which an interactive content icon is used. The broadcast material is analyzed and one or more regions within a frame are identified. Additional information can be associated with a region, and can be transmitted in encoded form, using timing information to identify the frame with which the information is associated. A receiver displays the annotation information associated with the video signal in response to a viewer request on a frame by frame basis. The interactive content icon can be used to inform a viewer of the presence of hyperlinked information, for teaching the viewer how to use the system, and for informing the viewer about the hyperlinked information. |
| US08356328B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting content for an Internet television stream using mobile device location
Methods and systems for selecting content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet television stream using mobile device location information. In one aspect, the methods and systems seamlessly select content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet television stream using mobile device location information and program break markers. In another aspect, the methods and systems select content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet television stream using mobile device trajectory information. In yet another aspect, the methods and systems select using mobile device location information cohabitation content for sharing a display screen on a mobile device with program content in an Internet television stream. |
| US08356324B2 |
Implementing network personal video recorder for digital video settop boxes
A video program is streamed in a normal mode to a digital media rendering system on a first connection to the rendering system. Then, while streaming the video program over the first connection, a control signal is received from the rendering system over a second connection with the rendering system. In response to receipt of the control signal, the normal mode of streaming the video program is switched to a trick mode of streaming the video program over the first connection. This is done without closing the first connection. In response to receipt of the control signal, a resynchronization signal is sent to the rendering system over the first connection. The resynchronization signal causes the rendering system to resynchronize the processing of video program data packets after the trick mode of streaming has begun. |
| US08356321B2 |
Method and system for monitoring and controlling receiving circuit modules at a local collection facility from a remote facility
A system and method for controlling receiving circuit module includes a remote facility, an IP network and a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility through the IP network. The local collection facility includes a plurality of primary receiving circuit modules having a first encoder. The local collection facility generates a receiving circuit module monitoring signal. The local collection facility communicates the monitoring signal to the remote facility through the IP network. The monitoring system generates a receiving circuit module control signal in response to the monitoring signal communicates the receiving circuit module control signal to the receiving circuit module through the IP network. |
| US08356314B2 |
Object and resource security system
A method for securing a plaintext object within a content receiver is described. In one step, a secure portion of a secure object and a plaintext remainder of the secure object are received. Which portion of the secure object is the secure portion is determined. The secure portion is decrypted to provide a plaintext portion. The plaintext object that comprises the plaintext portion and the plaintext remainder is formed. The plaintext object is stored including authentication and authorization. |
| US08356307B2 |
Information processing method, apparatus, and system for controlling computer resources, control method therefor, storage medium, and program
An operation request from a process or OS for computer resource(s) managed by the OS, such as a file, network, storage device, display screen, or external device, is trapped before access to the computer resource. It is determined whether an access right for the computer resource designated by the trapped operation request is present. If the access right is present, the operation request is transferred to the operating system, and a result from the OS is returned to the request source process. If no access right is present, the operation request is denied, or the request is granted by charging in accordance with the contents of the computer resource. |
| US08356306B2 |
Workload management controller using dynamic statistical control
A computer system comprises a workload management controller that detects and tracks resource consumption volatility patterns and automatically and dynamically adjusts resource headroom according to the volatility patterns. The controller can be hardware or a combination of software and hardware for executing the software. Also, a computer-implemented workload management method includes a computer detecting and tracking resource consumption volatility patters. The computer automatically and dynamically adjusts resource headroom according to the volatility patterns. |
| US08356303B2 |
Method and system for integrated scheduling and replication in a grid computing system
A method for scheduling a plurality of computation jobs to a plurality of data processing units (DPUs) in a grid computing system 100. The method includes receiving a first computation job by a scheduling DPU from the plurality of computation jobs. Further, the method includes scheduling the first computation job at a first set of DPUs in the grid computing system based on first scheduling criteria. Furthermore, the method includes scheduling the first computation job at a first DPU from the first set of DPUs based on second scheduling criteria. The method also includes storing information about the first computation job and the first set of DPUs in a history table at the scheduling DPU. The method further includes storing information about the first DPU in a demand matrix of the first set of DPUs. |
| US08356301B2 |
Optimization of queued events by deletion/integration based on CPU load calculation
An event processing apparatus has a central processing unit (CPU) and an event queue that temporarily accumulates a plurality of events when occurring. The CPU executes an event queue optimization module for executing filtering processes to delete one or more events based on optimization definition information, and/or for executing chunking processes to integrate a plurality of events into an event, for a plurality of events accumulated in the event queue, based on a CPU load calculation involving the sum of mean CPU-execution-times for unexecuted tasks corresponding to the queued events. |
| US08356299B2 |
Interrupt processing method and system
A method for interrupt processing includes setting a buffer for buffering data packets received by a front-end or back-end of the virtual machine and setting a timer for timing data buffering time; determining, after receiving the data packets from the front-end or the back-end, whether the received data packets are interacting data packets and determining whether to enable or postpone the timer, and buffering the received data packets by the buffer and enabling the timer in the case that the data packets are not the interacting data packets; and sending the buffered data packets through a virtual machine manager to the back-end or the front-end of the virtual machine for processing in the case that the buffer reaches a maximum capacity limit or the timer reaches a predetermined time. |
| US08356298B2 |
Method for data transmission
A method for data transmission in a system is disclosed. The system includes a computer (1) and a peripheral device (9), which are connected to each other via a network (8). The computer has hardware resources (2), including a network interface (2.3) and a controller (4), which is designed to provide a virtual machine system in that it maps the hardware resources (2), including the network interface (2.3) onto logical interfaces (5, 5.3) in virtual machines (4). A peripheral device adapter (10) provided in the computer (1) is mapped by the controller (3) onto a logical peripheral device interface (11) in one of the virtual machines (4) and data is exchanged between the peripheral device (9) and the virtual machine (4) via the network (8), the peripheral device adapter (10), and the logical peripheral device interface (11) while bypassing the logical interfaces (5.3) mapping the network interface (2.3) into the virtual machines (4). |
| US08356297B1 |
External data source redirection in segmented virtual machine
Interacting with an external environment of a segmented virtual machine is disclosed. An indication that a communication with an external environment is desired is received. It is determined whether the communication can be initiated directly from a core virtual machine of the segmented virtual machine without initiating the communication from a shell virtual machine of the segmented virtual machine. An attempt to initiate the communication is made based as at least in part on the determination. |
| US08356293B1 |
System and method for controlling installed third party software components
A method of controlling operation of an installed component includes generating auxiliary information relating to the installed component in user space; launching a control program in operating system space for controlling operation of the installed component; and controlling, from the operating system space, the operation of the installed component using the auxiliary information. The installed component can be an operating system component running in a Virtual Private Server, or a component of third party software. The auxiliary information can be, e.g., time stamps, CRC, access control information, function names, function address offsets and function parameter passing information derived from the debug file. The controlling step can patch the installed component. The patch can be version-specific to the installed component. The controlling step can monitor behavior of the installed component. The auxiliary information can be generated based on a debug file/pdb file. |
| US08356285B2 |
Facilitated introspection of virtualized environments
Some embodiments provide a system that manages the execution of a software component in a virtualized environment. During operation, the system monitors the execution of the software component from an external location to the virtualized environment. Next, the system assesses an integrity of the software component by comparing the monitored execution to an expected operation of the software component, wherein the expected operation is determined based on source code for the software component. Finally, the system uses the assessed integrity of the software component to facilitate the execution of the software component. |
| US08356283B2 |
Determining a relative measure of fault risk for a built system
The present invention discloses a method, apparatus and software for determining a relative measure of the risk of faults in a built product relative to a reference build of the product. The measure can be based on a balance between the additional risk added as a result of changes made in a given build and the risk reduction resulting from testing applied to the build. The product associated with the builds can be a software product, a firmware product, an electronic device, and/or any manufactured product. |
| US08356282B1 |
Integrated development environment for the development of electronic signal testing strategies
Integrated application of specific CASE tools that allow a user to accomplish instrument programming and control when generating, capturing and/or analyzing electronic signals, and in doing so automatically generate automation code to replicate a desired instrument setup, acquisition, analysis and sequence control. The CASE tools include, but are not limited to, GUI instrument programming tools, an electronic signal redisplay tool, a waveform analyzer tool, automated code generation tools, macro generation tools, macro and sequence playback tools, a test creation tool, a test sequencer tool, a decision engine that may be part of the test sequencer tool, and test result data logger. A method for analyzing electronic signals that enables multiple tests to be performed after a single signal acquisition, and enables results from the multiple tests to be analyzed is also disclosed. |
| US08356281B2 |
Method, system and program product for recording and replaying target service interaction data
An architecture that allows target service interactions to be realistically simulated in a development environment. The architecture includes a proxy service, an interaction recorder, an interaction store and an emulator service. The proxy service delegates service requests received from a client component to a target service. If it is in “record” mode, the proxy service routes any interaction data corresponding to the interaction (between the target service and the client component) to the interaction recorder. Upon receipt, the interaction recorder records the interaction data in the interaction store. Later, the proxy service can be placed in “replay” mode so that a subsequent service request for the target service is delegated to the emulator service. Upon receipt, the emulator service retrieves the corresponding interaction data from the data store and replays the same to emulate/simulate the target service. |
| US08356280B2 |
Infrastructure service architecture for applications
A mechanism is disclosed for operating local version-independent service program code for infrastructure services, wherein the mechanism is automatically and optionally linked to a central, remote service infrastructure, and wherein both an online and an offline processing mode is included and automatically supported, and wherein the mechanism is embedded in a generic runtime environment. In at least one embodiment, it contains service program code implemented in the runtime environment for calling by way of the application program code with standardized interfaces, wherein the service program code is intended for the provision of functionalities for predetermined services that an application program code can use. |
| US08356277B1 |
System and method for freezing operation of dynamic code of a run-time web page
Systems and methods are provided for freezing operation of dynamic code of a run-time web page, such as freezing JavaScript code of a web page. A software application that is being employed for analyzing a web page includes functionality to enable a user to freeze operation of dynamic code, such as JavaScript code, of the run-time page, thereby allowing the user to view, analyze, and/or modify the page's output presentation and/or underlying source files at the given state at which the page was frozen. Such software application may comprise a web page authoring tool or a client-side analysis tool (e.g., testing tool), as examples. |
| US08356267B2 |
Statistical method for hierarchically routing layout utilizing flat route information
An integrated circuit design is routed by first creating temporary routes in a flattened layout, generating blockage information for sub-blocks in the layout based on the temporary routes, and establishing a routing order for cells using a depth-first search. Cells in the original layout are then routed according to the routing order using the blockage information. The temporary routes are sorted into internal routes, terminal routes, and spanning routes. Blockage information for each sub-block includes a first cellview equal to the internal routes, a second cellview equal to the terminal routes plus the spanning routes, and a third cellview equal to the total tracks in the sub-block minus the first and second cellviews. The invention is particularly suited for routing a hierarchical integrated circuit design. By examining the complete hierarchy, the invention ensures that enough metal will be remaining at upper level sub-blocks to complete the routing automatically. |
| US08356266B1 |
Enabling a high-level modeling system
An embodiment of a method for enabling a high level modeling system for implementing a circuit design in an integrated circuit device includes: receiving a high-level characterization of the circuit design; receiving a portable location constraint associated with elements of the circuit design; and generating, by a computer, a low-level characterization of the circuit design based upon the high-level characterization and the portable location constraint. |
| US08356265B2 |
Offset fill
Techniques are described for increasing the density of structures in a layout circuit design, while reducing undesired total interconnect capacitance that might otherwise be created by the increase in structure density. Data representing a pattern of fill structures is added to the fill regions of the design for one of the layers. Data representing a pattern of fill structures then is added to the fill regions of the design for another of the layers adjacent to the first layer. In the design for the second conductive layer, however, the pattern of fill structures is offset from the pattern of fill structures added to the design for the first layer in a direction substantially parallel to the layers. The offset may be selected to minimize or otherwise reduce the amount of overlap between the fill structures along a direction substantially perpendicular to the layers, thereby reducing the total interconnect capacitance associated with the layers. |
| US08356263B1 |
Yield based flop hold time and setup time definition
Systems and method for defining a timing parameter for a circuit element based on process variation, including, determining a point of failure parameter associated with the timing parameter, the point of failure parameter correlated with a specific value of the process variation. A standard deviation associated with the point of failure parameter is determined. The process variation per the standard deviation is calculated and the timing parameter for the circuit element is defined as a function of the failure parameter, the standard deviation, and the process variation per the standard deviation. A margin factor, which varies with the standard deviation, is optionally applied to the timing parameter. The timing parameter may be one of a setup time or hold time. |
| US08356262B1 |
Cell architecture and method
A method includes selecting a cell stored in a non-transient computer readable storage medium, arranging a plurality of the cells on a model of a semiconductor device, and creating a mask for the semiconductor device based on the model of the semiconductor device. The cell is designed according to a design rule in which a first power-supply-connection via satisfies a criterion from the group consisting of: i) the first power-supply-connection via is spaced apart from a second power-supply-connection via by a distance that is greater than a threshold distance such that the cell can be fabricated by a single-photolithography single-etch process, or ii) the first power-supply-connection via is coupled to first and second substantially parallel conductive lines that extend along directly adjacent tracks. |
| US08356258B2 |
Arranging display areas utilizing enhanced window states
Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and user interfaces (UIs) for manipulating display areas on a GUI workspace by transitioning the display areas from an original state to one of a set of enhanced window states are provided. Initially, an indication to resize a display area is received at an operating system, which consequently invokes an appropriate window state. The indication may include capturing an edge of the display area and vertically dragging the edge to a dock-target region, thereby invoking a vertically-maximized state. Accordingly, configuration settings of the vertically-maximized state are applied such that the display area is stretched to approximately the screen height. In another instance, the indication may include capturing the display area and dragging a display area into a dock-target region, thereby invoking a semi-maximized state. Configuration settings of the semi-maximized state are applied, thus, extending the display area to approximately cover a predefined GUI workspace region. |
| US08356255B2 |
Virtual white lines (VWL) for delimiting planned excavation sites of staged excavation projects
Methods and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. Source data representing one or more input images of a geographic area including the dig area is electronically received at a first user location, which may be remote from the dig area. The source data is processed so as to display at least a portion of the input image(s) on a display device. One or more indicators are added to the displayed input image(s), via a user input device associated with the display device, to provide at least one indication of the dig area and thereby generate a marked-up digital image. In the case of a staged excavation project, the input image, or a plurality of associated images, may include indicia of multiple dig areas corresponding to multiple stages of the staged excavation project. |
| US08356251B2 |
Play control of content on a display device
A system for presenting and controlling content on a display device includes a network, a server system coupled to the network and comprising one or more servers, a display device coupled to the network and having a display, and a personal computing device operable to transmit a first message according to a specified format over the network to the server system. The server system stores an association between the personal computing device and the display device. The first message identifies user-selected content and a media player to play the content. The server system is operable, in response to receiving the first message from the personal computing device, to provide to the display device a second message identifying the user-selected content and the media player to play the content. In response to receiving the second message, the display device is operable to obtain a first media player needed to play the content, to load the media player and to present the content on the display. |
| US08356250B2 |
Mobile terminal and equalizer controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal including an output unit configured to output sound, an equalizer configured to adjust parameters of the sound output by the output unit, a display unit including a touch screen and configured to display a Graphic User Interface (GUI) including a graphical guide that can be touched and moved to adjust the parameters of the sound output by the output unit, and a controller configured to control the equalizer to adjust the parameters of the sound output by the output unit in accordance with a shape of the graphical guide that is touched and moved. |
| US08356244B2 |
Managing changes in aircraft maintenance data
Airline operator-customers manage aircraft maintenance data for fleets of commercial aircraft using a suite of electronic maintenance tools that are delivered to the customers over the Internet and viewed with a web browser. The maintenance tool suite includes an authoring module that allows customers to create, edit and manage both OEM originated aircraft maintenance data and the customers' own data within a fully integrated environment running as a web application over the Internet. The authoring module combines workflow, XML authoring and editing, import/export of the data, change reconciliation, and publishing of airline customer authored documents, airline customer authored changes, OEM Temporary Revisions, and OEM aircraft maintenance documents into a single integrated web application using XML as the maintenance document format. The use of XML as the native format of the aircraft maintenance data allows the customers to reuse the data in a variety of ways. |
| US08356243B2 |
System and method for structuring speech recognized text into a pre-selected document format
A system for creating a structured report using a template having at least one predetermined heading and formatting data associated with each heading. The steps include recording a voice file, creating a speech recognized text file corresponding to the voice file, identifying the location of each heading in the text file, and the text corresponding thereto, populating the template with the identified text corresponding to each heading, and formatting the populated template to create the structured report. |
| US08356242B2 |
Computer program product and computer system for presenting a summary of selected values
A method, system, and article of manufacture for quickly and easily obtaining information about a list of elements. One embodiment of the invention comprises receiving a selection of at least one desired summary function, generating a configuration file containing the at least one desired summary function, receiving a selection of a list of numbers, copying the list of numbers into a clipboard, parsing the configuration file to extract the least one desired function, calculating the at least one desired summary function using the list of desired numbers to generate summary information, displaying the summary information in a pop-up window, and replacing the selected list of numbers with the summary information. The results window may be a pop-window, a hover-help window, or a clipboard. |
| US08356241B2 |
Relay connection unit mounted in vehicle
A Relay connection unit which is connected with a plurality of buses and relays a message to a different bus. The relay connection section comprises a data check section for detecting an error in a data section of a received message, a storage section for storing set data or/and the previously sent data for message rewriting use for each ID (identifier) attached to the message, and a data rewrite portion for rewriting the data section of the message in which the error is detected into the set data or the previously sent data stored in the storage section. |
| US08356231B2 |
Use of alternative value in cell detection
A system and method, including computer software, allows reading data from a flash memory cell. Voltages from a group of memory cells are detected. The group of memory cells have associated metadata for error detection, and each memory cell stores a voltage representing a data value selected from multiple possible data values. Each possible data value corresponds to one range of multiple non-overlapping ranges of analog voltages. Memory cells having uncertain data values are identified based on the detected voltages. Alternative data values for the memory cells having the uncertain data values are determined, and a combination of alternative data values is selected. An error detection test is performed using the metadata associated with the multiple memory cells and the selected combination of alternative data values. |
| US08356225B2 |
Data derate matcher for supporting HARQ and method thereof
A data derate matcher for supporting hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), includes a control parameter generation unit for generating control parameters to separate bits of an input bit stream ek; and a bit separation unit for separating the bits of the input bit stream ek into three types of bits streams v(0)k, v(1)k, and v(2)k by modulus operation of each of the bits of the input bit stream and the control parameters. Further, the data derate matcher for supporting the HARQ includes address generators for generating addresses (j) of valid data to be used in deinterleavers with respect to data of each of the bit streams output from the bit separation unit; and subblock deinterleavers for sequentially inputting data corresponding to the addresses generated by the address generators to output decoded data. |
| US08356224B2 |
Communication method and system using two or more coding schemes
A communication method includes causing a transmitter to apply error correcting or detecting code systems to multiple frames or packets and to transmit the multiple frames or packets in succession, causing a receiver to receive the transmitted frames or packets and to decode each of the frames or packets received, and causing the receiver to send an acknowledgment signal to the transmitter on the basis of the results of decoding of the frames or packets. The transmitter applies two or more error correcting or detecting code systems to the frames or packets. |
| US08356220B2 |
Memory coupling scan input to first of scan path segments
Scan and Scan-BIST architectures are commonly used to test digital circuitry in integrated circuits. The present disclosure improves upon low power Scan and Scan-BIST methods. The improvement allows the low power Scan and Scan-BIST architectures to achieve a delay test capability equally as effective as the delay test capabilities used in conventional scan and Scan-BIST architectures. |
| US08356215B2 |
Testing apparatus and method for analyzing a memory module operating within an application system
A testing apparatus for analyzing a memory module under test operating within an application system, wherein the memory module under test is coupled to a processor of the application system, is disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the testing apparatus comprises a first interface for coupling to the application system, a second interface for coupling to a reference memory module, a controller coupled to the first and second interfaces, at least one comparator, and a data logging unit. The data logging unit is configured to receive logging data from the controller and at least one test result from the at least one comparator, and to record, in a memory, at least a subset of the logging data, such that more specific details of memory errors revealed during behavioral testing of memory modules may be identified, examined, and stored for subsequent analysis. |
| US08356214B2 |
Internal signal monitoring device in semiconductor memory device and method for monitoring the same
An internal signal monitoring device in a semiconductor memory device includes: an internal signal input unit to receive an internal signal to be monitored and having an output to provide a monitor source signal in response to a test mode signal; and an internal signal output unit having an input coupled to the output of the internal signal input unit, the internal signal output unit to transmit the monitor source signal to a predetermined pad of the semiconductor memory device in response to the test mode signal. |
| US08356207B2 |
Intelligent condition monitoring and fault diagnostic system for preventative maintenance
A system for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis includes a data collection function that acquires time histories of selected variables for one or more of the components, a pre-processing function that calculates specified characteristics of the time histories, an analysis function for evaluating the characteristics to produce one or more hypotheses of a condition of the one or more components, and a reasoning function for determining the condition of the one or more components from the one or more hypotheses. |
| US08356194B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating overshoot power after estimating power of executing events
Embodiments of the present invention relate to limiting maximum power dissipation occurred in a processor. Therefore, when an application that requires excessive amounts of power is being executed, the execution of the application may be prevented to reduce dissipated or consumed power. Example embodiments may stall the issue or execution of instructions by the processor, allowing software or hardware to reduce the power of an application by imposing a decrease in the performance of the application. |
| US08356191B2 |
Techniques for measuring network channel resistive loss between a power-sourcing apparatus and a powered device
A method and apparatus are provided for determining resistive power loss through a channel between Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) and a Powered Device (PD). The method includes (1) receiving indication that a PSE signal measurement is available from the PSE or a PD signal measurement is available from the PD, (2) selecting, as an input parameter to a processing operation, at least one of the PSE signal measurement or the PD signal measurement, (3) performing the processing operation to calculate a resistance value indicative of the resistive power loss through the channel between the PSE and PD based on the input parameter, and (4) outputting the resistive power loss value as a result of carrying out the processing operation. |
| US08356190B2 |
Method and system for energy efficient communication among one or more interfaces in a communication path
Network devices coupled via serial and/or parallel interfaces may determine a power level mode of operation according to an energy efficient network communication control policy and may configure one or more of the interfaces for the lower power mode. The network devices may comprise a PHY, a MAC and/or higher layer devices. The interfaces may comprise a XGMII extender, a XAUI and/or a XFI device. The interfaces may comprise a backplane PHY, for example, a 10 GBASE-KR, a 10 GBASE-KX4 and/or a 1 GBASE-KX PHY which may perform FEC. The interfaces may comprise direct attach copper such as SFP+ and/or InfiniBand and/or 10 GBASE-CX4 PHYs. The interfaces may comprise a pluggable transceiver module. Energy efficient network control data may be communicated to and/or from the network devices which may enter and/or exit a lower power mode of operation. |
| US08356189B2 |
Network security device and method
The invention describes a method for hardening a security mechanism against physical intrusion and substitution attacks. A user establishes a connection between a network peripheral device and a network via a security mechanism. The security mechanism includes read only memory (ROM) that contains code that initiates operation of the mechanism and performs authentication functions. A persistent memory contains configuration information. A volatile memory stores user and device identification information that remains valid only for a given session and is erased thereafter to prevent a future security breach. A tamper-evident enclosure surrounds the memory elements, which if breached, becomes readily apparent to the user. |
| US08356188B2 |
Secure system-on-chip
The aim of the present invention is to provide a secure system-on-chip for processing data, this system-on-chip comprising at least a central processing unit, an input and an output channel, an encryption/decryption engine and a memory, characterized in that, said input channel comprises an input encryption module to encrypt all incoming data, said output channel comprising an output decryption module to decrypt all outgoing data, said central processing unit receiving the encrypted data from the input encryption module and storing them in the memory, and while processing the stored data, said central processing unit reading the stored data from the memory, requesting decryption of same in the encryption/decryption engine, processing the data and requesting encryption of the result by the encryption/decryption engine and storing the encrypted result, outputting the result to the output decryption module for decryption purpose and exiting the decrypted result via the output channel. |
| US08356187B2 |
Methods and systems for providing a secure electronic mailbox
A secure electronic mailbox is provided to a customer having an electronic account. The electronic account links the secure electronic mailbox to a physical address of the customer. The customer can send and receive secure and non-secure messages via the secure electronic mailbox. The customer can also access electronic services such as electronic bill presentment and payment using the secure electronic mailbox. |
| US08356186B1 |
Decryption system and method for reducing processing latency of stored, encrypted instructions
A present novel and non-trivial decryption system and methods are disclosed for reducing latency associated with the decryption and execution of stored, encrypted instructions. The system comprises a storage device, a processor, a controller, a key generator, a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of bus switches, and a combiner. Upon receiving a processor command, the controller changes the switch positions of a plurality of switches, where a first switch is operatively coupled to a key generator, a second switch to a combiner for performing a combinatory decryption process, and both switches to plurality of memory banks. When a partition is switched, the processor executes data of an instruction immediately upon completion of the combinatory decryption process using at least one character retrieved from one memory bank while the next decryption key is generated and loaded into another memory bank at the same time. |
| US08356181B2 |
Apparatus and method for a direct anonymous attestation scheme from short-group signatures
An apparatus and method is provided for a direct anonymous attestation scheme from short-group signatures. The method may include the creation of a group public/private key pair for a trusted membership group defined by an issuer; and assigning a cryptographic pair that is combined with a unique private member value to form a private membership key. A trusted member device generates the unique private member value during a join procedure of a trusted membership group. In one embodiment, the private member value of the private membership key is unknown to the issuer. A member may sign a message with the private membership key to form a short-group digital signature that is verified using a public key of the trusted membership group to maintain anonymity of trusted member devices. A size of the private membership key may be reduced to enable storage within a trusted platform module. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08356180B2 |
Multidimensional identification, authentication, authorization and key distribution system for patient monitoring
A method, wireless system and a wireless device provide multidimensional identification, authentication, authorization and key distribution providing secure communications at a deepest common security domain. |
| US08356179B2 |
Entity bi-directional identificator method and system based on trustable third party
An entity bi-directional identification method and system based on a trustable third party thereof are provided. The system comprises a first entity, which is for sending a first message to a second entity, sending a third message to a third entity after receiving a second message sent by the second entity, verifying the fourth message after receiving a fourth message sent by the third entity, sending a fifth message to the second entity after the verification is finished; the second entity, which is for receiving the first message sent by the first entity, sending the second message to the first entity, verifying the fifth message after receiving the fifth message sent by the first entity; the third entity, which is for receiving the third message sent by the first entity, checking if the first entity and the second entity are legal, implementing the pretreatment according to the checking result, sending the first entity the fourth message after the treatment is finished. |
| US08356173B2 |
Configuration method, system and device of cryptographically generated address
A configuration method of a cryptographically generated address (CGA) is disclosed. The configuration method is used to enable a generated CGA to satisfy requirements of a network configuration, and includes the following steps. A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server receives a client configuration information sent from a client. The DHCP server generates a CGA according to the client configuration and the network configuration from the DHCP server. The DHCP server delivers the CGA to the client. The network configuration is made as a reference when the CGA is generated, which overcomes a disadvantage that the CGA generated by the client cannot satisfy the requirements of the network configuration in the prior art. Thus, the generation of CGA can be intervened at a network management level, and a management capability of the network is improved. |
| US08356164B2 |
Shift-in-right instructions for processing vectors
The described embodiments provide a processor for generating a result vector with shifted values from an input vector. During operation, the processor receives an input vector and a control vector. Using these vectors, the processor generates the result vector, which can contain shifted values or propagated values from the input vector, depending on the value of the control vector. In addition, a predicate vector can be used to control the values that are written to the result vector. |
| US08356160B2 |
Pipelined multiple operand minimum and maximum function
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for executing a multiple operand minimum or maximum instructions. Executing the multiple operand minimum or maximum instruction comprises transferring more than two operands to one or more processing lanes of a vector unit. A first compare operation may be performed in at least one processing lane of the vector unit to determine a greater or smaller of a first operand and a second operand. The greater (or smaller) operand may be transferred to a dot product unit, wherein, in a second compare operation, the transferred operand is compared to at least a third operand to determine one of the greater and smaller of the more than two operands. |
| US08356157B2 |
Virtualization system and area allocation control method
A virtualization system, upon judging that a write operation from a higher-level device is an operation to write in the format of the virtual volume, even when the write position of the write operation is in a virtual area different from a virtual area to which an allocated actual area has been allocated, if there is an unused area in the allocated actual area, writes management information to the unused area according to the write operation, and if there is no unused area in the allocated actual area, newly allocates an unallocated actual area, and writes management information to the newly allocated actual area according to the write operation. |
| US08356151B2 |
Reporting of partially performed memory move
A method performed in a data processing system initiates an asynchronous memory move (AMM) operation, whereby a processor performs a move of data in virtual address space from a first effective address to a second effective address and forwards parameters of the AMM operation to asynchronous memory mover logic for completion of the physical movement of data from a first memory location to a second memory location. The processor executes a second operation, which checks a status of the completion of the data move and returns a notification indicating the status. The notification indicates a status, which includes one of: data move in progress; data move totally done; data move partially done; data move cannot be performed; and occurrence of a translation look-aside buffer invalidate entry (TLBIE) operation. The processor initiates one or more actions in response to the notification received. |
| US08356148B2 |
Snapshot metadata management in a storage system
Methods and systems for improving performance in a storage system utilizing snapshots are disclosed by using metadata management of snapshot data. Specifically, various metadata structures associated with snapshots are utilized to reduce the number of IO operations required to locate data within any specific snapshot. The number of IO operations are reduced by allowing the various metadata structures associated with the temporally current snapshot to locate data directly within any temporally earlier snapshot or on the original root volume. |
| US08356147B2 |
Tiered storage pool management and control for loosely coupled multiple storage environment
A system comprises a first storage system including a first storage controller, which receives input/output commands from host computers and provides first storage volumes to the host computers; and a second storage system including a second storage controller which receives input/output commands from host computers and provides second storage volumes to the host computers. A first data storing region of one of the first storage volumes is allocated from a first pool by the first storage controller. A second data storing region of another one of the first storage volumes is allocated from a second pool by the first storage controller. A third data storing region of one of the second storage volumes is allocated from the first pool by the second storage controller. A fourth data storing region of another one of the second storage volumes is allocated from the second pool by the second storage controller. |
| US08356139B2 |
Storage system for maintaining hard disk reliability
To maintain reliability even when the repetition of the power saving control for storage systems occurs frequently due to the access from the host computer. During the course of controlling the operation mode of the drives, the controller measures the start/stop cycle count and the load/unload cycle count, calculates the S/S wear-out rate showing the ratio of the measured value of the start/stop cycle count to the first upper limit value and the L/U wear-out rate showing the ratio of the measured value of the load/unload cycle count to the second upper limit value, and for the drives in the idle operation mode, selects the low-speed rotation operation mode if the S/S wear-out rate is greater than the L/U wear-out rate, or selects the standby operation mode if the S/S wear-out rate is less than the L/U wear-out rate. |
| US08356136B2 |
Block management method of a non-volatile memory
A block management method applicable to a non-volatile memory storage system is provided. The non-volatile memory storage system includes a plurality of chips. Each chip includes a plurality of physical blocks. The physical blocks form a plurality of physical block sets. Each logical block in a logical space corresponds to at most two physical block sets. In the block management method, when a logical block corresponds to two physical block sets filled with data and more data is to be written, a free physical block set is allocated for storing the data. Then, one of the two physical block sets corresponding to the logical block is selected according to a predetermined criterion. The valid data in the selected physical block set is copied into the free physical block set. Next, the selected physical block set is erased and collected to the pool of free physical block sets. |
| US08356133B2 |
Touch module switch circuit for all in one computer
A touch module switch circuit includes a universal serial bus (USB) display circuit, a touch module, a first resistor, a second resistor, a first diode, a second diode, a USB switch chip, and a USB interface. The touch module selectively communicates with one of the USB display circuits and the USB interface by control of the USB switch chip together with the first resistor, the second resistor, the first diode, and the second diode. |
| US08356125B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing a channelized buffer
In one embodiment, a device is disclosed. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a first memory stage for storing a plurality of pointer values associated with a plurality of buffers, wherein the plurality of buffers is associated with a plurality of logical channels. The device further comprise a second memory stage, wherein an access address to the second memory stage is formed from a concatenation of one of the plurality of pointer values and a channel number corresponding to one of the plurality of logical channels. |
| US08356124B1 |
Method and system for processing packet transfers
A data transfer system includes a PCI Express transaction layer having an input for serially receiving posted and non-posted request packets and completion packets; an application layer coupled to the PCI Express transaction layer for receiving posted and non-posted request packets and completion packets from the PCI Express transaction layer; a first transmission interface coupling the application layer to the PCI Express transaction layer; and a second transmission interface coupling the application layer to the PCI Express transaction layer. The PCI Express transaction layer transmits posted and non-posted request packets to the application layer over the first transmission interface and transmits completion packets to the application layer over the second transmission interface. |
| US08356122B2 |
Distributed trace using central performance counter memory
A plurality of processing cores, are central storage unit having at least memory connected in a daisy chain manner, forming a daisy chain ring layout on an integrated chip. At least one of the plurality of processing cores places trace data on the daisy chain connection for transmitting the trace data to the central storage unit, and the central storage unit detects the trace data and stores the trace data in the memory co-located in with the central storage unit. |
| US08356121B2 |
Communication control device and communication control method in audio visual device system, and television receiver
A communication control device in an audio visual device system has disconnection detection unit for detecting that an audio visual device is disconnected from the audio visual device system, device detection unit for detecting an audio visual device which has not acquired a logical address according to a device type, and control unit for performing control for causing the audio visual device without a logical address to acquire a logical address, when disconnection of a audio visual device is detected by the disconnection detection unit. With this configuration, in an audio visual device system in which an upper limit is set to the number of logical addresses according to a device type, it is possible to cause an audio visual device which cannot acquire a logical address according to the device type to acquire a logical address when it is made available. |
| US08356118B2 |
Storage device and storage device access control method
A storage device is removably connectable to a host computer. The storage device includes: a storage unit on which one or more storage areas are allocatable to a plurality of users; and a control unit. The control unit is operable to, when the storage deice receives authentication success information indicating that authentication for one of the users is succeeded from the host computer or other external device, simulatively mount the storage area allocated to the authenticated user and unmount the storage area allocated to another user. |
| US08356112B1 |
Intelligent network adaptor with end-to-end flow control
A host is coupled to a network via an intelligent network adaptor. The host is executing an application configured to receive application data from a peer via the network and the intelligent network adaptor using a stateful connection according to a connection-oriented protocol. The intelligent network adaptor performs protocol processing of the connection. Application data is copied from host memory not configured for access by the application (possibly OS-associated host memory) to host memory associated with the application (application-associated host memory). The application data is received from the peer by the intelligent network adaptor and copied to host memory not configured for access by the application. The operating system selectively provides, to the intelligent network adaptor, information of the memory associated with the application. At least one portion of the application data for the connection is provided directly from the intelligent network adaptor to the memory associated with the application. |
| US08356110B2 |
Adaptive bandwidth resource management for media streams
A resource manager permits a first user to use a first bandwidth of a shared pool of bandwidth for receiving a first media stream, where the shared pool of bandwidth comprises a maximum amount of available bandwidth. The resource manager receives a request from a second user to use a second bandwidth of the shared pool of bandwidth for receiving a second media stream, and determines whether it is permissible to decrease the quality of the first media stream or the second media stream to reduce the first bandwidth or the second bandwidth such that the second bandwidth combined with the first bandwidth does not exceed the maximum amount of available bandwidth of the pool of bandwidth, where determining whether it is permissible to decrease the quality of the first media stream or the second media stream includes one of: signaling the first user to determine if the first user approves decreasing the quality of the first media stream, or signaling the second user to determine if the second user approves decreasing the quality of the second media stream. The resource manager further decreases the quality of the first media stream or the second media stream based on the permissibility determination. |
| US08356109B2 |
Network streaming of a video stream over multiple communication channels
The present disclosure is directed to streaming a video from a sending endpoint to a receiving endpoint. Both of the sending endpoint and the receiving endpoint have multiple communication channels connecting the sending endpoint and the receiving endpoint to one or more networks, respectively, and the streaming video includes a plurality of intra-frame coded frames and a plurality of inter-frame coded frames. The sending endpoint sends different ones of the plurality of intra-frame coded frames and different ones of high priority inter-frame coded frames to the receiving endpoint over more than one of the multiple communication channels having a connection-oriented protocol. In addition, the sending endpoint sends different ones of non-high priority inter-frame coded frames to the receiving endpoint over more than one of the multiple communication channels having a connectionless-oriented protocol. |
| US08356108B2 |
System and method for providing random access to a multimedia object over a network
A system and method provide random access to a multimedia object over a network. One embodiment of the invention includes a streaming media server that is connected to a client computer over a network. The streaming media server includes at least one multimedia object that is adapted for transmission (“streaming”) across the network. A pre-roll calculation program determines a pre-roll for each segment of the multimedia object and generates a modified multimedia object which includes a pre-roll for each of its segments, a pre-roll identifying a portion of the multimedia object to be transmitted by the streaming media server and received by the client computer prior to playback of the multimedia object at a selected segment. The pre-roll allows the client computer to present, starting at a selected segment, the multimedia object in its entirety without interruption. The pre-roll calculation program further facilitates the design of the multimedia object to minimize delays associated with random accesses to segments of the multimedia object. |
| US08356106B2 |
Cache validating SCIT DNS server
A cache validating SCIT-DNS Server including a server cluster, a cache copy, a controller and a validation module. Each of the servers in the server cluster uses a DNS mapping cache which maps DNS name(s) to record entry(ies). The cache copy maintains an image of DNS mapping cache(s). The controller manages the state of servers. States include a live spare state; an exposed state; a quiescent state; and a self-cleansing state. The validation module validates DNS entry(s) using a retriever module and a comparisons module. Retriever module retrieves an independent record entry associated with a selected DNS name from an external DNS resolver. The comparison module compares the independent record entry retrieved by the retriever module with the record entry associated with the selected DNS name residing in the cache copy. The validation module may cause server(s) to take an affirmative action in response to detected validation error(s). |
| US08356100B2 |
Full-duplex bi-directional communication over a remote procedure call based communications protocol, and applications thereof
Systems and methods for reducing the cost but increasing the performance caused in streaming data between a client and a server are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention relate to reducing the cost but increasing the performance by the traditional data streaming where two TCP connections, one for each direction of traffic is used. Further embodiments allow a server in communication with one or more clients using a RPC based communication protocol to bi-directional stream not on two TCP connections but a single TCP connection. In one embodiment, this is achieved, by transmitting from the client to the server an initial handshake. If the server receives the handshake, then the client streams a request stream to the server and the server streams a response stream to the client simultaneously over the same single TCP connection establishing full-duplex streaming. |
| US08356097B2 |
Computer program product and method for estimating internet traffic
Site metrics are presented in association with search results. The site metrics are derived from site analytics that uses clickstream data collected from a panel of internet users to generate and present internet activity metrics. Data collected from a community of internet users may be augmented by clickstream data store content, third party content, search results, and other sources to form estimates of internet activity that is structured and analyzed to produce metrics of nearly any internet web site or domain. The data may be further augmented with ratings, retail deals, and analysis of web site content to form a comprehensive set of data that is mined to formulate various metrics of internet activity about web sites. Metrics of internet activity, provides analysis that represents aspects of internet user access to a web site. Such aspects may include activity related to visitors, engagement, growth, trust, deals, and the like. |
| US08356095B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring context information on web server
A method for transferring context information on a web server that contains a context pool. The method includes: in response to the web server receiving a message, obtaining context information from the message, generating a unique identifier according to a thread for processing the message, associating the context information with the generated unique identifier, and storing the context information and the associated unique identifier in context pool of web server correlatively. In response to a web server obtaining the context information, generating an identifier according to a thread that is executed currently in the web server, and extracting context information for which an associated unique identifier is matched with the generated identifier from the context pool. |
| US08356094B2 |
Method, system, client and server for locating operation nodes in communication system
The present disclosure relates to the field of mobile communication technologies, and provides a method for locating operation nodes in a communication system. The method includes using an identifier in the received message to obtain an adjusted path from the root node of the management tree of the client to the standard management object corresponding to the identifier, using the message to obtain a relative path between the target operation node and the root node of the standard management object on the management tree, concatenating the adjusted path with the relative path, and locating the target operation node according to the concatenated path. The present disclosure also provides a system for locating operation nodes, a client for locating operation nodes in a communication system, and a server for performing management operations for clients. |
| US08356093B2 |
Apparatus and system for estimating network configuration
When a failure occurs in a network or in a network apparatus, a connection state of the network is changed. There is provided a network configuration estimating apparatus for knowing logical route information quickly after a failure occurrence in accordance with information collected from network apparatuses, although it is conventionally difficult to know this information quickly. The network configuration estimating apparatus executes: a process of generating network configuration information such as physical and logical topologies from information collected in advance; a process of monitoring a network failure; a process of calculating a network configuration to be estimated after a network failure occurrence, from the network configuration information generated in advance and network failure information; a process of visually displaying the calculated network configuration; and a process of managing history of calculated network configurations. |
| US08356092B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, system, and related computer program product for policy control
It is disclosed a method including receiving first address information relating to a terminal and a network traffic relay entity, obtaining second address information relating to the network traffic relay entity and a network traffic destination entity, and sending the first address information and the second address information to a controlling entity; and a method including receiving the first and second address information, generating policy information based on the received first and second address information, and monitoring network traffic based on the generated policy information. |
| US08356091B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing a network
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network element having a controller to obtain network information associated with establishing a network among a group of communication devices, and provide the network information to a plurality of network set-up devices removably connected to the network element, where each of the plurality of network set-up devices is connectable with a communication device of the group of communication devices to provide at least a portion of the network information to the communication device, and where the network is established based at least in part on the at least a portion of the network information. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08356089B1 |
Network services platform
A network services platform provides services to remote enterprise networks. The services platform provides a control module to a computer in the enterprise network. The control module executes on the computer and interacts with the services platform to establish an Internet Protocol (IP) tunnel between the services platform and the computer. The control module also establishes a bridge between the IP tunnel and the enterprise network. The services platform allocates a unique private IP address space to the enterprise network, and translates IP addresses in network communications between enterprise network addresses and corresponding services platform addresses in the allocated unique private address space. The services platform provides network services to the enterprise network via the IP tunnel and bridge. |
| US08356084B2 |
Information processing apparatus and image processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus communicable with an image processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus including a transmission unit configured to transmit a job that requests execution of image processing, a switching unit configured to automatically switch a transmission destination of the job to the image processing apparatus during a communication with the image processing apparatus, and a unit configured to revert the transmission destination of the job, after completion of the communication with the image processing apparatus, to a setting before the transmission destination of the job was switched by the switching unit. |
| US08356076B1 |
Apparatus and method for performing spam detection and filtering using an image history table
A system and method are described for using different types of image fingerprints to detect spam. Specifically, one embodiment of the invention dynamically calculates both an image-specific signature (e.g., MD5 checksum) and a generic signature for each image and, if a specified number of images have the same generic signature but different image-specific signatures, then a feature is fired within a spam engine to indicate that the images are spam. By way of example, a computer-implemented method is described for detecting spam images within a stream of messages comprising: generating generic signatures and image-specific signatures for images within the stream of messages; determining if two or more images with matching generic signatures have different image-specific signatures; and updating a spam filtering engine to include the matching generic signatures if the number of images with matching generic signatures but different image-specific signatures reach a specified threshold value. |
| US08356075B2 |
Distributed business process management system with local resource utilization
Systems and methods consistent with the invention may include providing an instance of business process management suite in a sandbox of a web browser. The instance of the business process management suite may be based on an archive received from a web server. The business process management suite may be controlled using a graphical user interface in a browser. Providing a business process management suite may further include creating an instance of a database management system in the sandbox. The instance of the database management system may further store its data in the local memory of a client device. |
| US08356073B1 |
Multi-homed web server with animation player and programmable functionality
A multi-homed web server is disclosed including a plurality of virtual hosts operable in a web server. The multi-web server is configured to serve animations to clients over the web. The multi-web server may determine whether the specified time to send a subsequent graphic in a series of graphics has passed, and if the specified time has passed, then send a next graphic the next appropriate time. |
| US08356072B1 |
Systems and methods for scalable heterogeneous and homogeneous unified enterprise storage clusters
The techniques introduced here include systems and methods for scalable heterogeneous or homogeneous unified enterprise cluster storage systems that include a first cluster-compliant server, a second cluster compliant server, and optionally a non-cluster-compliant server. The first cluster-compliant server can be configured for operation as a member of a cluster with the second cluster-compliant server, and further configured to service a client request from a client of the cluster storage system by utilizing the client request to send a server request to the second cluster-compliant server or the non-cluster-compliant server. The second cluster-compliant server and the non-cluster-compliant server are configured to service the server request from the first cluster-compliant server by retrieving data and sending the data to the first cluster-compliant server. The second cluster-compliant server can transition from clustering operations with the first cluster-compliant server to data serving operations with the optional non-cluster-compliant server. |
| US08356065B2 |
Similar text search method, similar text search system, and similar text search program
The similar sentence search system which ensures sufficient search accuracy in a search for similar sentences is provided, the system includes a similarity calculation unit having an input string storage unit which stores an input sentence and an example sentence, a local distance calculation unit which calculates local distances based on the strings stored by the input string storage unit, a local distance storage unit which stores local distances, a path determination unit which controls the calculation performed by the cumulative distance calculation unit based on the information on strings stored by the input string storage unit, a cumulative distance calculation unit which calculates a new cumulative distance based on the local distances and the cumulative distance stored by the cumulative distance storage unit and a cumulative distance storage unit which stores the cumulative distance. |
| US08356063B2 |
Reconfigurable digital filter
A digital filter is provided for radio communication processing capable of dynamically modifying the characteristic and simultaneously processing a plurality of systems. In the digital filter, calculation core groups capable of modifying function are arranged and connected to one another by an input interface unit and an output interface unit. When the communication mode is modified, the number of calculation resources to be used and setting contents are decided according to the setting candidate of the filter characteristic required and the calculation resource empty state. According to the decision, functions of the respective parts are modified to perform a predetermined operation control, so as to flexibly modify the limited multiplication/addition calculation resource calculation tap quantity, the operation clock, and the connection relationship, thereby enabling simultaneous and parallel execution of a plurality of different finite impulse response (FIR) filter processes and simultaneous and parallel execution of a plurality of filter processes. |
| US08356060B2 |
Compression analyzer
Techniques are described herein for automatically selecting the compression techniques to be used on tabular data. A compression analyzer gives users high-level control over the selection process without requiring the user to know details about the specific compression techniques that are available to the compression analyzer. Users are able to specify, for a given set of data, a “balance point” along the spectrum between “maximum performance” and “maximum compression”. The point thus selected is used by the compression analyzer in a variety of ways. For example, in one embodiment, the compression analyzer uses the user-specified balance point to determine which of the available compression techniques qualify as “candidate techniques” for the given set of data. The compression analyzer selects the compression technique to use on a set of data by actually testing the candidate compression techniques against samples from the set of data. After testing the candidate compression techniques against the samples, the resulting compression ratios are compared. The compression technique to use on the set of data is then selected based, in part, on the compression ratios achieved during the compression tests performed on the sample data. |
| US08356058B2 |
Runtime dependency analysis for calculated properties
Techniques for determining and tracking dependent properties for a calculated property are provided. A request for a value of a first property is received. The value for the first property is calculated, including accessing values for one or more properties used to calculate the value for the first property. The accessing of the values for the one or more properties may be detected, and the one or more properties may be tracked as dependent properties for the first property in a first set of dependent properties. A change in the value of a second property may subsequently be detected. If the second property is determined to be included in the first set of dependent properties, the value of the first property is invalidated. |
| US08356055B2 |
Registration of CIM agent to management agent and system
Various embodiments for displaying a state of an embedded device using a browser are provided. In one such embodiment, a method for registering a Common Information Model (CIM) agent to a management agent in a computing environment by a processor device is provided. The management agent is discovered by the CIM agent in a management domain in response to an insertion of the CIM agent into the management domain. At least one of information of the CIM agent and the discovered management agent is registered by the CIM agent. The management agent is compliant with the CIM agent. The management agent converts a CIM schema of the CIM agent into a schema at the management agent identifiable by the management agent. |
| US08356053B2 |
Managing relationships between resources stored within a repository
A method and apparatus for managing relationships between resources stored in a repository is provided. A client sends, to a server, a request to store a first resource within a repository. In response to receiving the request, the server parses the first resource to retrieve relationship data that identifies a relationship between two or more resources to be stored, or currently stored, within the repository. The server stores, within a database accessible to the server, one or more relationship records that identify the relationship between the two or more resources. The one or more relationship records are stored separate from the two or more resources. Subsequently, the client may issue queries, to the server, about the one or more relationships records stored in the database. In this way, a user may access the one or more relationship records to analyze the relationship between resources stored in repository. |
| US08356048B2 |
Systems and methods for improved forums
An embodiment relates generally to a method of searching. The method includes receiving a query in a structured forum and searching a general and certified knowledgebase based on the query. The method also includes providing a plurality of search results ordered based on an associated rating of each search result of the plurality of the search results. |
| US08356045B2 |
Method to identify common structures in formatted text documents
A computer implemented method, computer program product and data processing system, for identifying common structures shared across a plurality of formatted text documents. The common structure is presented as a sequence of landmarks, each of which has a starting and ending marker to describe the borders of text. The common structure is identified by counting the occurrences of repeating text segments across documents. Frequently co-occurred adjacent segments become candidates for markers of landmarks. In addition, styling information of textual content within a landmark is extracted and mapped to rules. The rules are used to merge and summarize content from multiple documents, which gives an advantage over current practice of content concatenation. |
| US08356043B2 |
File management method
There is provided a technique for facilitating file marking by adding attribute information to the file according to read of biometric information. Biometric information is read from a living body moving and attribute information abased on the biometric information is added to the file. According to the biometric information which has been read, the direction of the movement of the living body is judged. When the movement direction coincides with a predetermined direction, the file is searched according to the biometric information. |
| US08356041B2 |
Phrase builder
Real-time query expansion (RTQE) is a process of supplementing an original query with additional terms or expansion choices that are ranked according to some figure of merit and presented while users are still formulating their queries. Individual terms may be combined and submitted as a phrase into a query. By building the phase term-by-term, users can compositionally formulate queries while maintaining the same benefits that other RTQE interfaces offer. The benefits include, reducing the number of keystrokes and improving retrieval performance. To promote greater flexibility in its working environment, the number of terms that are presented on a display may be reduced. In place of some terms, placeholders may be used and expanded by the user when necessary. This allows phrases to be readily presented on small displays (e.g., hand-held devices). |
| US08356038B2 |
User to user recommender
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for recommending relevant users to other users in a user community. In one implementation of such a method, two different sets of data are considered: a) music (or other items) that users have been listening to (or otherwise engaging), and b) music (or other items) recommendations that users have been given. In some embodiments, pre-computation methods allow the system to efficiently compare item sets and recommended item sets among the users in the community. Such comparisons may also comprise metrics that the system can use to figure out which users should be recommended for a given target user. |
| US08356033B2 |
Album system, photographing device, and server
A photographing device is arranged to communicate with a server via a network. In the photographing device, an information uploading unit transmits a user identifier and image data to the server. An image information storing unit receives a data identifier from the server, associates the image data with the data identifier, and stores the image data in a non-volatile memory or a removable non-volatile memory of the photographing device. A URL information generating unit generates URL information of a web page containing the data identifier and requesting the server to manipulate management information of the image data. An encoding unit encodes the URL information into a bar code. A display unit displays an image of the bar code on a display. |
| US08356029B2 |
Method and system for reconstruction of object model data in a relational database
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are provided to facilitate efficient searching and reconstruction of entity relationship data in a relational database. The entity relationship data in the relational database is migrated from an object oriented program environment. |
| US08356028B2 |
Flexible data structure in an information system having a computer readable medium
An information system having a computer readable medium including a flexible data structure is provided. The data structure allows information entered into the data structure to be embellished or qualified. The flexible data structure increases the ability of the data structure to record exceptional information pertinent to specific circumstances. The flexible data structure also enables database access software to respond to user queries in a more effective and informative manner. |
| US08356027B2 |
Hybrid query execution plan generation and cost model evaluation
A procedural pattern in a received query execution plan can be matched to a stored pattern for which an equivalent declarative operator has been pre-defined. The query execution plan can describe a query for accessing data. A hybrid execution plan can be generated by replacing the procedural pattern with the equivalent declarative operator. A hybrid execution plan processing cost can be assigned to execution of the hybrid execution plan and a query execution plan processing cost can be assigned to execution of the query execution plan. The assigning can include evaluating a cost model for the hybrid execution plan and the query execution plan. The query can be executed using the hybrid execution plan if the hybrid execution plan processing cost is less than the query execution plan processing cost or the query execution plan if the hybrid execution plan processing cost is greater than the query execution plan processing cost. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. |
| US08356023B2 |
Collaborative systems and methods for constructing representations of data
Embodiments relate to methods and systems for building representations of related subjects. User instructions may be received via a computer system that relate identifying information relating to a subject (e.g., an individual, group and/or event) to a node being associated therewith. Nodes in different accounts may be compared and matched based on identifying information associated with the nodes. Characteristics of one of the matched nodes may be added or modified based on characteristics of another of the matched nodes. A user may be notified of a potential match, a match, and/or node characteristics additions and/or modifications. |
| US08356021B2 |
Method and apparatus for indexing in a reduced-redundancy storage system
Method and apparatus for indexing subblocks in a reduced-redundancy storage system. Each subblock is hashed to an K-bit key and an entry for the subblock added to an index data structure comprising of a tree of hash tables. In a further aspect, by replacing the top of the tree with an array, the data structure can achieve O(1) access time for random keys while still providing relatively smooth growth. |
| US08356018B2 |
Systems and methods for grid-based data scanning
A computing grid for performing scanning operations on electronic data in a networked computing environment. The data scanning operations may include scanning data for viruses or other malicious software code. The computing grid for performing data scanning operations may include one or more event detectors to detect data scanning events and one or more grid scanning elements to perform the data scanning operations. The computing grid may also include a grid coordinator to monitor the grid configuration, perform necessary updates to the grid, and to take pre-determined actions based on the results of the data scans. |
| US08356016B1 |
Forwarding filesystem-level information to a storage management system
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates forwarding filesystem-level information to a storage management system. During operation, a computing device receives a request for a file operation from a client computing device, and issues one or more filesystem operations in response. A filesystem device driver extracts filesystem-level information from these filesystem operations, and then forwards the extracted filesystem-level information to the storage management system. |
| US08356015B1 |
File system quiescing driver
A technique for quiescing a file system is described. The technique includes holding a change request, flushing the file system, and releasing the change request. Flushing may include sending a flush request, determining whether a cache associated with the file system is flushed, and in the event that the cache is not flushed, resending the flush request and determining whether the cache is flushed. |
| US08356014B2 |
Referring to partitions with for (values) clause
A method and apparatus for referencing a partition of a data storage space in a request to perform an operation with relation to the partition are disclosed. The techniques disclosed do not rely on knowing the partition's name, thus simplifying the process of requesting a database to perform an operation on a partition when that partition's name is unknown. Data such as a DDL statement is received. The data indicates a value in a FOR clause in lieu of the partition name. The data also indicates an operation to be performed with respect to a particular partition of the partitioned space. The particular partition is not named in the received data. Based on the value, it is determined that the particular partition is a first partition. The operation is performed with respect to the first partition. |
| US08356010B2 |
Online data migration
Data is recursively migrated during uptime from a first table to a second table in a first schema in a database while taking into account changes to the first table in a change table. The database has first and second application servers respectively connecting to the database using first and second schemas and running first and second versions of a software program. Downtime can be initiated to migrate the remaining entries in the change table to the second table, delete the first table, and rename the second table to have a same name as the first table prior to deletion so that during uptime the second application server connects to the second table and runs the second version of the software program. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08356009B2 |
Implementation defined segments for relational database systems
Embodiments disclosed herein provide an implementation defined segments (IDS) subsystem which allows new data segments to be added to an identity hub after deployment. A set of metadata tables are utilized to describe IDS, each of which is a data structure encapsulating a single row from a master data record residing in the identity hub. Once a segment (an object) is described, the identity hub can use the information to define persistent storage for the object in the database for any relational database management system, create internal structures to hold the data and process business rules and demographic comparisons against the data object, describe the data object to remote clients, and allow the clients to query the identity hub at runtime about what data objects exist, what fields and data types they contain, and additionally how they might be displayed or formatted on various clients. |
| US08356008B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing of databases
A method for synchronizing a first database including first data records with a second database including second data records. The method includes starting a synchronization session with an electronic device on which the second database resides, requesting the first data records from the first database, temporarily disconnecting the synchronization session while awaiting receipt of the first data records, receiving the first data records, and restarting and completing the synchronization session. |
| US08356003B2 |
Automated integration of events for a surveillance system
A system for automated integration of events, configured for use in a building with a network system, includes a plurality of surveillance systems, a processing center connected to the surveillance systems through the network system and a user device connected to the processing center through the network system. The surveillance systems are adapted to monitor various kinds of irregular events occurring in the building and the surroundings thereof and output corresponding event messages through the network system. The processing center receives the event messages in a preset receiving mode and further classifies and analyzes the event messages. The user device allows users to input filtering conditions and enables the processing center to integrate the classified and analyzed event messages according to the input filtering conditions so as to generate composite filtered messages to be displayed on the user device, thereby achieving efficient acquisition and integration of the event messages. |
| US08356002B2 |
Learning apparatus and method of intelligent system
A learning apparatus and method of an intelligent system according to the present invention relates to learning of an intelligent system that automatically controls a system on the basis of information about events generated in an external environment or services input by a user. In the learning, it is determined whether rules extracted from event data or service data are the same as rules already stored. Then, if it is determined that the rules are new rules, queries about the confidence of new rules are generated and provided to a user. The rules are updated on the basis of user's answers. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately grasp users' patterns by using very small amount of observation data as compared to an existing method, and to more easily sense variable patterns. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a more intelligent learning in the intelligent system. |
| US08355999B2 |
Inference of altitude using pairwise comparison of telemetry/temperature signals using regression analysis
Some embodiments provide a system that analyzes telemetry data from a computer system. During operation, the system obtains the telemetry data as a set of telemetric signals using a set of sensors in the computer system, wherein the set of sensors includes temperature sensors at different locations in a cooling airflow through the computer system. Next, the system calculates a set of pairwise temperature differences from the telemetric signals. The system then infers an altitude of the computer system based on the pairwise temperature differences. Finally, the system uses the inferred altitude to manage the operation of the computer system. |
| US08355998B1 |
Clustering and classification via localized diffusion folders
A method for hierarchical clustering comprises multi-level partitioning of data points into non-overlapping LDFs and formation of sets of such LDFs, wherein original data points may reside in different LDFs. The sets of LDFs are then hierarchically processed into sets of super-LDFs, which are further processed up the hierarchy. In some embodiments, the further processing ends with the construction of a single super-LDF at the root of the hierarchy. The partitioning of the data points and the hierarchical processing of the sets of LDFs and super-LDFs uses respective local affinity matrices. |
| US08355997B2 |
Method and system for developing a classification tool
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a computer implemented method of developing a classifier. The method includes receiving input for a case, the case comprising a plurality of instances and an example, the example comprising a plurality of data fields each corresponding to one of the plurality of instances, wherein the input indicates which, if any, of the instances includes a data field belonging to a target class. The method also includes training the classifier based, at least in part, on the input from the trainer. |
| US08355996B2 |
Plant control apparatus that uses a model to simulate the plant and a pattern base containing state information
A plant control system includes: a numerical calculation execution part which calculates the operation characteristic of the plant; a model for simulating the plant control characteristic according to information on the numerical calculation result; a learning part which learns the plant operation method by using the model; a learning information database which stores learning information data on the learning part; a pattern generation part which generates pattern data expressing a state input based on the learning information data in the learning part with a smaller input number than the model input dimension; a pattern database which stores the pattern data generated in the pattern generation part; and a learning result determination part which selects a learning result having a preferable control effect from the learning result obtained by using a plurality of patterns. |
| US08355993B2 |
Authentication of an end user
A method and system for authenticating an end user. A first pattern of colored quadrilaterals is generated. A second pattern of multiple colored nodes that include a first subset of nodes is generated. The first and second patterns are sent to the end user. If a transparent credit card is overlaid by the end user on top of the second pattern, then a second subset of nodes in the credit card would match in color and location the first subset of nodes. The authenticity status of the end user is determined by determining whether each node of a third subset of nodes within the second subset of nodes (i) corresponds to a unique node of the multiple colored nodes and (ii) has a color that matches a specific color in one quadrilateral of the colored quadrilaterals. The determined authenticity status is sent to the end user via an output device. |
| US08355991B2 |
Method and apparatus for executing cryptographically-enabled letters of credit
A method and apparatus for executing electronic transactions using cryptographically-enabled accounts stores cryptographically-enabled account information and instructions, receives a cryptographically-encoded permission certificate, and processes the received permission certificate to execute the transactions. |
| US08355986B2 |
Methods and systems for managing government issued entitlements
A method for designating accounts for funds from a check to be deposited is described. The method includes receiving, at a processing center having a processor, a direct deposit government entitlement check from a government entity to be deposited. The check may include an identifier. The method further includes comparing the identifier with a customer database to determine that funds from the check have been designated to be divided into sub-amounts and deposited into a plurality of accounts. Each of the plurality of accounts has account type and an associated expenditure designation. The method then receives a report of a total amount deposited from the check for each type of associated expenditure designation and each account type. |
| US08355981B2 |
System and method for graphically displaying market related data using fixed size bars
A system and method are provided for displaying market related data, such as traded volume at each price level, or any other trader-selected values, using one or more fixed size bars. In one preferred embodiment, a graphical display interface is provided and includes a plurality of fixed size bars that display traded volume at different price levels. In such an embodiment, the length of each bar may correspond to a predefined maximum value, and each bar may be progressively color-coded using a first graphical format to represent traded volume that is lower than the maximum value. If the traded volume exceeds the maximum value, the overflow value may be represented by progressively color-coding the bar using a second graphical format that may be used in relation to the first graphical format color-coding. |
| US08355978B2 |
Systems and methods for pricing and selling digital goods
Systems and methods are provided for pricing, selling, and/or otherwise distributing electronic content using auction mechanisms. A randomized auction mechanism is used to determine both the number of goods that are sold and the selling price. The auction mechanism automatically adapts to the bid distribution to yield revenue that is competitive with that which could be obtained if the vendor were able to determine the optimal fixed price for the goods. In one embodiment a set of bids is randomly or quasi-randomly partitioned into two or more groups. An optimal threshold is determined for each group, and this threshold is then used to select winning bids from one or more of the other groups. In another embodiment, each bid is compared to a competing bid that is randomly or quasi-randomly selected from the set of bids. If the bid is less than the randomly-selected competing bid, the bid is rejected. Otherwise, the bid is accepted and the bidder buys the auctioned item at the price of the randomly-selected bid. |
| US08355976B2 |
Fast and accurate method for estimating portfolio CVaR risk
A method, system and computer program product for measuring a risk of an asset portfolio. The system estimates a β-level CVaR (Conditional Value-at-Risk) of the asset portfolio by modeling interdependencies between assets in the asset portfolio. The modeling is based on Gaussian copula model. |
| US08355973B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a periodic auction reset securities optimization engine
Dynamic management of one or more portfolios of securities, in particular, portfolios of Periodic Auction Reset Securities (PARS) is disclosed. The dynamic management for the specification of rules for investor accounts by which optimization of this type of portfolio may occur and allows financial institutions or other wealth management entities to easily maintain and invest in PARS holdings for multiple accounts. For example, the dynamic management systems and methods can provide for the maintenance of a large number of separate accounts that contain PARS, centralize the maintenance of PARS positions, allow management of central PARS accounts in line with guidelines specified in one or more account profiles, allow sales traders to specify additional guidelines, and/or automate account analysis, trade generation and/or participation in the auction process. |
| US08355972B2 |
Systems and methods for displaying information about financial markets
Enhanced methods, systems, and techniques for displaying information about financial markets are provided. Example embodiments provide a Market Performance Indicator System (“MPIS”), which generates and provides indicators of market performance, based on obtained market information. In some embodiments, a performance indicator may include a directional indicator, such as an arrow or vector, indicating the value and/or change in value of one or more attributes of performance of an aspect of a financial market. Aspects of a financial market may include individual financial instruments, such as stocks and bonds, as well as aggregate information about a particular market, such as a market index. Attributes of performance may include price, volume of trading, and price variability. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US08355967B2 |
Personal finance integration system and method
An integration device retrieves credit reports, and/or other financial data that is available from one or more credit sources, for consumers and extracts financial account information from the credit reports. The integration device may then format and/or translates the account information into a format that is usable by a particular consumer's personal finance software and communicates the account information to the personal finance software. Accordingly, the personal finance software is provided with information regarding each of a plurality of financial accounts that are associated with the consumer so that the account information may be populated in the personal finance software with minimal effort by the consumer. |
| US08355966B1 |
Payroll e-file and e-pay assistant
A method for using a website, including detecting, using an agent executing on a central processing unit (CPU) and operatively coupled to a financial management application (FMA), a user accessing a webpage of the website by comparing a web address submitted by the user to a pre-determined web address of the webpage, analyzing the webpage based on a pre-determined template to identify a data entry field, identifying, using the agent executing on the CPU, data managed within the FMA for populating the data entry field, wherein the data is identified by comparing the data entry field to a data model of the FMA, retrieving the data managed within the FMA to generate retrieved data, and populating, using the agent executing on the CPU, the data entry field using the retrieved data based on the data model of the FMA. |
| US08355964B2 |
Auditor's toolbox
A system and method for managing and providing selective access to automated data regarding daily valued defined contribution plans. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for managing accounting data between one or more clients and one or more administrators and one or more users (e.g., auditors, vendors, sub-vendors, etc.) and preferably presented to a third party via an interface which collects the information in a first format and displays the information in second format. The data is thus available to auditors using a template, different from the normal order in which the data is collected or used, which arranges the data and customizable reports in an order and fashion according to standard accounting plans or a comparable order in which the auditor will need the data and reports while auditing a defined contribution plan to prepare, for example, a form 5500 report. |
| US08355958B2 |
Information providing system for providing store information regarding specified stores to a terminal device
The information providing system accurately predicts a behavior pattern of a user, selects and provides the optimal information at individual points in time. Provision information files for a number of stores are stored. When a user from a cellular phone transmits a retrieval condition including the position information and a keyword, a file is retrieved whose degree of accordance to the retrieval condition is a certain reference level. Tables show statistical degrees of interest of users in association with respective geographical areas, respective time periods, and respective store genres. The degree of accordance of the retrieved file is corrected based on the corresponding degrees of interest in the tables, and a list is presented, in which stores are sorted in the large order of the corrected degree of accordance, to the phone. The store information selected by the user from the list is distributed to the phone. |
| US08355956B2 |
Marketing goods with bar codes
Disclosed herein are techniques to market products and services by enabling a potential consumer to access information about a product or service by simply scanning a bar code. Consistent with some embodiments, a computer system stores in a database data records that include bar code information. The computer system is operable to receive requests for information that include bar code information. Upon receiving such a request, the computer system identifies a data record in the database with bar code information that matches the bar code information received in the request, and then processes the request by communicating relevant information to the requestor. |
| US08355953B2 |
Requirement management device, requirement management method, computer product
When ordering manufacture of a product, an input is received of request information including at least information on desired delivery date for the product, information on desired quantity of the product, and information on which step the product is fabricated to (requirement rank information), and all or part of the request information accepted is displayed on a display screen. |
| US08355950B2 |
Generating customer-specific vehicle proposals for vehicle service customers
Methods, systems and computer program products for generating customer-specific vehicle proposals based on ongoing vehicle finance pay-off information received from a third party entity. The embodiments of the invention herein disclosed provide for efficient identification of potential customers based on their current vehicle and the ongoing financial obligation related to the current vehicle. A replacement vehicle is identified and a vehicle proposal, such as a sales or lease proposal, is generated for one or more of the identified potential customers. |
| US08355949B1 |
Enhanced hyperlink feature for web pages
The invention in some embodiments features a contextual content delivery system (CCDS) for enhancing conventional web content with pop-up bubbles that display information when a cursor hovers over a word, link, or icon. The CCDS is configured to identify words or links in a document, determine their context, select the appropriate bubble from a plural of bubble types for each of the words or links, select content for each bubble based, in part, on the context in which the words and hyperlinks are used. The context can be determined from various sources including the resource in which the word or link appears and the target resource to which the link points. Thereafter, the CCDS enhances the words or links so that bubbles are automatically invoked in response to the appropriate trigger. |
| US08355946B2 |
Systems and methods for determining whether to offer a reward at a point of return
Computerized decision-making systems and methods are described for determining whether to provide one or more rewards, such as a coupon or instant discount, to a customer requesting to make a merchandise return at a store, and, if so, to determine the terms of the reward, such as value, expiration date/time and other terms that may be associated with a coupon. The reward determinations may be implemented in conjunction with a system for authorizing the requested merchandise return transaction. Information about the requested return may be used together with data about the customer's past purchase, return transactions, and other customer-related data. In some embodiments, the determinations are based, at least in part, on store-related information and policies. The reward may be printed with a receipt issued to the customer at the point of return and/or may be provided to the customer using a wide variety of other communications technologies. |
| US08355944B2 |
Methods and systems for collaborative demand planning and replenishment
The present invention provides systems and methods for generating replenishment orders for products sold to a multi-store retailer. Store trait data is mapped with planogram information and the mapped data is used to generate a fixture level safety stock for a particular product in a particular store. The fixture level safety stock triggers fixture level replenishment orders. |
| US08355942B2 |
Software/hardware ranking
A ranking method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system, business requirements and associated weighting factors. The computing system receives a list of software/hardware products and associated assessment data. The business requirements are associated with product features of the software/hardware products. The computing system calculates total requirement weighting factors for the product features. The computing system stores the total requirement weighting factors. |
| US08355939B2 |
Managing supply and demand for a ware
Among other disclosed subject matter, a method for managing supply and demand for a ware includes obtaining requirement information for a ware, the requirement information representing a forecasted demand for the ware at a specified time. The method includes generating supply information for the ware, generating pegging information, obtaining order information for the ware, modifying the requirement information and updating the pegging information. Any remainder of the forecasted demand of the requirement information that is not consumed by the order remains associated with the supply information in the pegging information. |
| US08355937B2 |
System and method for managing seat reservations
This invention relates to an electronic means by which people can select the exact seat or seats they want for any type of event or reserve an appointment for any activity. More specifically, a customer or a ticket re-seller or a venue operator can go, for example, to the internet and select the event or activity for which he wants a ticket or tickets or reserve a time and reserve and order the exact seat or seats or the time of his choosing directly online. The seat or seats or reserved time he selects is then removed from the inventory for that activity or event and made not available for any other buyer and such is so indicated by a graphical representation or other such indicator on the online map or picture representing availability of seating or time for that event. |
| US08355936B2 |
Managing a travel itinerary
Mechanisms for managing a travel itinerary of a user are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and/or software for managing the user's travel itinerary based on the location of the user are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving user location information and estimating the arrival time of the user at the departure point for a scheduled first trip of the user based on the user location information. Embodiments may also include comparing the estimated arrival time of the user at the destination with a departure time for the scheduled first trip and, if the arrival time is substantially earlier than the departure time or equal to or later than the departure time, rescheduling by the travel itinerary computer the user for a different second trip. Further embodiments may include transmitting notification to the user that he has been rescheduled to a second trip. |
| US08355931B1 |
Mortality progression methods and systems
Methods and systems for preparing improved mortality tables for use with life insurance and other financial products are described herein. The improved mortality tables described herein account for progression over time of insureds from one underwriting class to another, e.g., based on deteriorating health over time. An insured who is in a “preferred” class at the time of initial underwriting might not still qualify for “preferred” status in 5 years, or even the next year. By creating a system of linear equations that predict the composition of a group n years after underwriting, insurance (and other financial products) providers can calculate more definite costs for pricing financial products based on the estimated or expected transition from one underwriting class to another. |
| US08355930B2 |
Insurance claim processing using containerized processing logic
A system and method for processing insurance claims using a set of adjudication rules. The method and system comprises receiving a claim for processing, such that the received claim having claim content including a claim date. Also provided is a database configured for accessing the set of adjudication rules appropriate to the received claim, the set of adjudication rules structured in containers including a primary rule container and secondary rule containers, each of the secondary rule containers being coupled to the primary rule container by a respective container reference, each of the secondary rule containers containing one or more adjudication rules adapted for processing the claim content of the received claim, each of the one or more adjudication rules being coupled to their respective secondary container by a respective rule reference, the set of adjudication rules defining a rule hierarchy. |
| US08355929B2 |
Methods and systems for storing medical supplies
Storing of medical supplies is performed according to rules promoting safety and ergonomics. The physical arrangement of medical supplies within a storage unit is analyzed. An inventory of medical supplies to be stored in the storage unit is established. A new physical arrangement of medical supplies within the storage unit is determined based on the rules for storing medical supplies and the inventory. The storage unit is configured according to the new physical arrangement. The physical locations within the storage unit where each of the medical supplies is to be stored are indicated. The medical supplies are stored in the indicated locations. |
| US08355924B2 |
Patient activity coordinator
Management of patient activities for a clinician is described herein. A patient activity list provides a common view of activities for patients assigned to a clinician for a given time period, such as a shift. The patient activity list provides a simplified view with critical indicators providing critical patient information. Patient activities may include ad hoc activities and scheduled activities presented in a timeline view based on the scheduled time period for each respective activity. Only activities relevant to the clinicians role are included and each activity is represented as a graphical icon representative of the type of activity. The patient activity list is fully navigable to allow the clinician to access further information and complete activities within context of the clinician's activities. |
| US08355920B2 |
Natural error handling in speech recognition
A user interface, and associated techniques, that permit a fast and efficient way of correcting speech recognition errors, or of diminishing their impact. The user may correct mistakes in a natural way, essentially by repeating the information that was incorrectly recognized previously. Such a mechanism closely approximates what human-to-human dialogue would be in similar circumstances. Such a system fully takes advantage of all the information provided by the user, and on its own estimates the quality of the recognition in order to determine the correct sequence of words in the fewest number of steps. |
| US08355919B2 |
Systems and methods for text normalization for text to speech synthesis
Algorithms for synthesizing speech used to identify media assets are provided. Speech may be selectively synthesized form text strings associated with media assets. A text string may be normalized and its native language determined for obtaining a target phoneme for providing human-sounding speech in a language (e.g., dialect or accent) that is familiar to a user. The algorithms may be implemented on a system including several dedicated render engines. The system may be part of a back end coupled to a front end including storage for media assets and associated synthesized speech, and a request processor for receiving and processing requests that result in providing the synthesized speech. The front end may communicate media assets and associated synthesized speech content over a network to host devices coupled to portable electronic devices on which the media assets and synthesized speech are played back. |
| US08355916B2 |
Systems and methods for extracting meaning from multimodal inputs using finite-state devices
Multimodal utterances contain a number of different modes. These modes can include speech, gestures, and pen, haptic, and gaze inputs, and the like. This invention use recognition results from one or more of these modes to provide compensation to the recognition process of one or more other ones of these modes. In various exemplary embodiments, a multimodal recognition system inputs one or more recognition lattices from one or more of these modes, and generates one or more models to be used by one or more mode recognizers to recognize the one or more other modes. In one exemplary embodiment, a gesture recognizer inputs a gesture input and outputs a gesture recognition lattice to a multimodal parser. The multimodal parser generates a language model and outputs it to an automatic speech recognition system, which uses the received language model to recognize the speech input that corresponds to the recognized gesture input. |
| US08355913B2 |
Speech recognition with adjustable timeout period
Input of dictated information in an information processing apparatus is controlled. Utterances of speech are detected and interpreted as words. Word by word confirmation of the interpreted words is detected, the confirmation being associated with an adjustable timeout period. The timeout period may be adjusted according to a number of different measures, including an average time needed for confirmation, an average success rate of dictation, by the pace of dictation as performed by a user, and by a user's history based on statistics from previously performed dictation procedures. |
| US08355909B2 |
Hybrid permanent/reversible dynamic range control system
A system for controlling dynamic range of an audio signal comprises an automatic gain control element that receives an input signal having a varying level and outputs a control signal that varies based on the varying level of the input signal and a modified input signal having a dynamic range different than a dynamic range of the input signal. The system also comprises an inverter that inverts the control signal or a block-based control signal corresponding to the control signal in block format. The system also comprises a variable gain element that receives the modified input signal and at least some of the inverted control signal or block-based control signal. The variable gain element also outputs a remainder signal corresponding to the modified input signal as unmodified based on the at least some of the inverted control signal or block-based control signal. |
| US08355906B2 |
Method and apparatus for extending the bandwidth of a speech signal
A bandwidth extension module, and an associated method and computer-readable medium, suitable for use in artificially extending the bandwidth of a lowband speech signal. The bandwidth extension module comprises a band-pass filter configured to produce a band-pass signal from the lowband speech signal; at least one carrier frequency modulator, each carrier frequency modulator configured to pitch-synchronously modulate the band-pass signal about a respective carrier frequency, the at least one carrier frequency modulator collectively producing a highband speech signal component; a synthesis filter configured to determine a highband speech signal based on the highband speech signal component; and a summation module configured to combine the lowband speech signal with the highband speech signal to obtain a bandwidth-extended speech signal. |
| US08355904B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting sentence boundaries
Provided are an apparatus and a method for detecting sentence boundaries. The apparatus includes a sentence boundary candidate extracting unit, a document context analyzing unit, a sentence boundary candidate classifying unit, a sentence generating unit. The sentence boundary candidate extracting unit extracts a sentence boundary candidate from an input document. The document context analyzing unit extracts features from information on preceding and following contexts of the sentence boundary candidate. The features are used in two or more statistical algorithms. The sentence boundary candidate classifying unit classifies whether the sentence boundary candidate is a sentence boundary or not, using the features and the two or more statistical algorithms. The sentence generating unit extracts sentence units from the document based on a result of the classification of whether the sentence boundary candidate is a sentence boundary or not. |
| US08355903B1 |
System and method for using data and angles to automatically generate a narrative story
A system and method for automatically generating a narrative story receives data and information pertaining to a domain event. The received data and information and/or one or more derived features are then used to identify a plurality of angles for the narrative story. The plurality of angles is then filtered, for example through use of parameters that specify a focus for the narrative story, length of the narrative story, etc. Points associated with the filtered plurality of angles are then assembled and the narrative story is rendered using the filtered plurality of angles and the assembled points. |
| US08355895B2 |
Drawing validation tool
Methods and systems of validating the application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (“GD&T”) in a drawing. In one embodiment, a method of validating the application of GD&T in a drawing includes creating a drawing having at least one drawing element. Next, a geometric dimensioning and tolerancing rule is applied to the at least one drawing element of the drawing. The legality of the applied geometric dimensioning and tolerancing rule is then verified with a software validation tool. Each illegal application of the geometric dimensioning and tolerancing rule is indicated with the software validation tool. Finally, a report is generated with the software validation tool, which contains each illegal application of the geometric dimensioning and tolerancing rule. |
| US08355894B2 |
Method for simulating casting defects and microstructures of castings
Systems for predicting casting defects and microstructure in suppliers/vendors' castings for part/system durability analysis without knowing the details of the casting layout and casting gating and riser design as well as casting process parameters are provided. The systems involve the use of an integrated pore growth and interdendritic flow model. Methods of predicting casting defects and microstructures of a part without knowing the details of the casting layout and casting gating and riser design as well as casting process parameters and articles of manufacture are also provided. |
| US08355885B2 |
Computerized imaging of sporting trophies
A method of generating and storing three-dimensional digital data indicative of a sporting trophy is provided. The method may be implemented in relation to a wide variety of sporting trophy applications. A sportsman can provide a sporting trophy to a scanning system to obtain three-dimensional image data relative to the sporting trophy. Sporting-relevant measurements can be computed based on the stored three-dimensional image data. |
| US08355882B2 |
Method for detecting high impedance faults by analyzing a local deviation from a regularization
A method for detecting high impedance faults, including: receiving an input waveform from a circuit; computing a root mean square of the input waveform; fitting a regression line to the root mean squares; computing a deviation between the regression line and the root mean squares; determining whether the deviations are above a threshold; and outputting a value indicating that a fault has occurred in the circuit when the deviation is above the threshold and outputting a value indicating that a fault did not occur in the circuit when the deviation is below the threshold. |
| US08355879B2 |
Trending of vibration data taking into account torque effect
In vibration based mechanical diagnostics, algorithms may extract some feature of a component which may be used as a statistic of the components' health. A measured condition indicator corresponding to the analysis of the components' health may be a function of transmission error (TE). Because there exists a relationship between TE and the CI for a component that is faulted, the CI is correlated with power transmitted. In drive train components, power may be proportional to measured torque. In terms of diagnostics or trending of a component, it is desirable to reduce the scatter in the measured CI and account for this torque. The relationship between measured CI and torque may be captured over time. An increase in the correlation of torque with the CI would indicate an increase of TE which indicates the propagation of a fault. |
| US08355873B2 |
Method of reservoir characterization and delineation based on observations of displacements at the earth's surface
Reservoir characterization based on observations of displacements at the earth's surface. One method of characterizing a reservoir includes the steps of: detecting a response of the reservoir to a stimulus, the stimulus causing a pressure change in the reservoir; and determining a characteristic of the reservoir from the response to the stimulus. The response may be the pressure change which varies periodically over time, or a set of displacements of a surface of the earth. In another example, a method includes the steps of: detecting a set of displacements of the earth's surface corresponding to a pressure change in the reservoir; and determining a characteristic of the reservoir from the surface displacements. In yet another example, a method includes the steps of: detecting a set of displacements of the earth's surface corresponding to a change in volume of the reservoir; and determining a characteristic of the reservoir from the surface displacements. |
| US08355870B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for telematics navigation
Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses for telematics navigation. |
| US08355869B2 |
Golf GPS device
A golf GPS device is disclosed herein. The device includes a GPS unit, a memory for storing data for a plurality of golf courses, a display for displaying animations of portions of golf courses, a user input for inputting a plurality of location points on the display, and a processor comprising means for rendering the animations of portions of golf courses from a plurality of latitude and longitude coordinate points. |
| US08355867B2 |
Method and system for detecting multiple paths in a system of satellite navigation
According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for controlling the navigation system of a carrier (P) receiving signals from a plurality of transmitters (T1-T3) and capable of measuring a pseudo-distance to each transmitter, wherein the elevation of each of the transmitters (T1-T3) is controlled relative to the horizontal (H) of the carrier (P), and a navigation solution is developed from the pseudo-distances (Pd-a) for which the elevation of the corresponding transmitter is higher than a minimum elevation (Em), characterized in that it comprises carrying out a discrimination of the multiple routes from the pseudo-distances (formula I) measured for the transmitters (T3) having an elevation lower than the minimum elevation (Em), and further retaining, during the development of the navigation solution, the pseudo-distances (Pd-ad) authorized after said discrimination. The invention also relates to a navigation system capable of implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention. |
| US08355866B2 |
Triply redundant integrated navigation and asset visibility system
Methods and apparatus are described for a navigation system. A method includes providing a global positioning system fix having a plurality of tracking parameters; providing a theater positioning system fix; monitoring the plurality of tracking parameters for predetermined conditions; and, when the predetermined conditions are met, sending a notifying signal and switching to the theater positioning system fix as a primary fix. An apparatus includes a system controller; a global positioning system receiver coupled to the system controller; a radio frequency locating receiver coupled to the system controller; and an operator interface coupled to the system controller. |
| US08355865B2 |
Travel time information system
A system is provided for providing travel time information for a plurality of positions on an electronic map. The system provides map data including information on road segments, determines a plurality of road segment travel times based on the map data, selects a plurality of positions for which travel time information is to provided, determines a travel time for each of these positions in dependence on the road segment travel times, and displays an optical indicator for the travel times on an electronic map. |
| US08355860B2 |
Methods and systems for assisted direct start control
Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively deactivated during engine idle-stop conditions. One example method includes, during a first condition, engaging an engine starter, without applying a starter current, to the deactivated rotating engine after the engine speed drops below a threshold speed. The method further includes, during a second condition, engaging the starter and adjusting a starter motor switch to apply a starter braking torque to the rotating engine. |
| US08355855B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling an integrated drive train
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for controlling an integrated drive train. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling a gas turbine drive train includes measuring speed associated with the drive train, controlling fuel flow to a gas turbine based at least in part on a speed command and the measured speed, controlling one or more guide vanes associated with a torque converter based at least in part on the speed command and an expected power output of the torque converter, and selectively coordinating respective torque contributions from the torque converter and the gas turbine. |
| US08355851B2 |
Vehicle cruise control apparatus and vehicle cruise control method
A vehicle cruise control apparatus includes a vehicle speed adjusting device that adjusts a vehicle speed to a set target vehicle speed, a brake operation detecting device that detects brake operation performed by a driver, and a first controller that controls the vehicle speed adjusting device based on a target driving force that maintains a vehicle in a stopped condition, when the brake operation performed by the driver is detected. |
| US08355846B2 |
Pedal lock control device for work vehicle
A pedal lock control device for work vehicle includes: a motor driving device that drives a travel hydraulic motor according to an operation amount of a travel pedal; a locking device that locks the travel pedal in a state of being operated; an instruction device that instructs lock and unlock of the travel pedal by the locking device upon an operation by an operator; a lock intention detection device that detects an intention of an operator to permit lock of the travel pedal; and a lock control device that locks the travel pedal by the locking device when an intention of the operator to permit lock is detected by the lock intention detection device and lock of the travel pedal is instructed by the instruction device. |
| US08355845B2 |
Method for controlling an actuator
The invention relates to a method for controlling an actuator (1), particularly of a vehicle, wherein the actuator (1) is displaced in a predetermined position (4) by means of a drive (5). The force variable acting on the actuator (1) in the position (4) is determined, compared to a target value, and in case the target value is exceeded, the drive (5) is actuated for system relief. The invention further relates to an displacement system (8) for an actuator (1), particularly of a vehicle, comprising a drive (5) for displacing the actuator (1) and a control module (6), designed for the control of the drive (5) according to the method. |
| US08355843B2 |
Control method and device for a vehicle for signaling when the optimal working temperature of tires and brakes is reached
An embodiment of a control method for a vehicle which is provided with a number of wheels, each of which comprises a tire and at least a disc brake of a braking system; the control method includes the step of sensing the current temperature of at least one component of a respective wheel by means of at least one sensor; determining, in a step of engineering and setting up, at least one first predetermined threshold value indicating the minimum temperature from which the component of wheel shows its maximum efficiency; comparing the current temperature of the component of wheel with the first predetermined threshold value; and signaling to the driver when the current temperature of the component of wheel is lower than the first predetermined threshold value. |
| US08355842B2 |
Method and device for steering a motor vehicle
A method for steering a motor vehicle in a collision avoidance maneuver ahead of an object in the front or lateral surroundings of the motor vehicle. It is arranged that a linear control method is employed, in which case one controller output signal (δLLM1; . . . ; δLLMN) each is determined in at least two linear controller modules depending on a deviation (e) between an actual position of the motor vehicle and a nominal position that is predetermined due to the avoiding path. The controller output signals (δLLM1; . . . ; δLLMN) are weighted with respectively one weighting factor (Φ1; . . . ; ΦN) that is established depending on the vehicle speed (v), and a steering angle of steerable wheels of the motor vehicle is established based on an arbitration of the weighted controller output signals. Furthermore, a device which is suitable to implement the method is provided. |
| US08355841B2 |
Turning behavior display device
A turning behavior display device, operable to display control condition of a turning behavior control unit which controls turning behavior of a vehicle in a turning direction by using a relative difference between a first torque acting on one of left and right wheels of the vehicle and a second torque acting on the other of the left and right wheels of the vehicle, includes: first display portions, provided for the left and right wheels, and adapted to increase or decrease in the turning direction in accordance with the relative difference from a reference section used when the first torque is equal to the second torque. |
| US08355836B2 |
PC-based automobile owner'S manual, diagnostics, and auto care
A computer built into an automobile displays the owner's manual for the car. The user requests more information about the automobile through the computer, and the additional information is displayed to the user. Information may include a description of a specific function or device of the car, service history, and/or real time status of a component of the car. |
| US08355833B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling engine torque
A vehicular system including an electrical sub-system, an engine generating a first torque to drive a crankshaft, an electric machine applying a second torque to the crankshaft, and a mechanical accessory sub-system applying a third torque to the crankshaft. The vehicular system also includes a control sub-system having a processor and a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium, storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to (i) during idle operation of the vehicle, select a mode operation, of a plurality of system modes including a charge mode and a discharge mode, to stabilize a net torque being a sum of the first, second, and third torques, and (ii) control operation of at least one of the electric machine and the engine according to the selected mode. |
| US08355830B2 |
Aircraft health monitoring and design for condition
A system and method for automatically varying the flight envelope of an aircraft based upon the material health of the aircraft and the flight environment is provided. The system includes a plurality of structural health monitoring and load sensors that determine the approximate size and the approximate location of the damage. The system performs residual strength calculations for individual aircraft components to determine the overall aircraft residual strength. The system uses these calculations to determine a maximum flight envelope based on the overall aircraft residual strength, and transmits this information to the flight controller and optionally to the pilot. |
| US08355826B2 |
Demand side management module
A household appliance system and method include an appliance control system having a common appliance interface provided on an appliance and a demand side management module connected to the common appliance interface. The module corresponds to one select utility of a plurality of utilities and is adapted to communicate with the one select utility of the plurality of utilities. The appliance control system operates the appliance based on communications with the one select utility through the module. |
| US08355825B2 |
Wind farm
Wind farm, of the kind that comprises a series of wind turbine generators, which consist of a rotor, a generator, a control unit and means of connection to the computing network for the wind farm of which they form part, in such a way that at least two of the wind turbine generators in the farm can assume a leader hierarchy for the wind farm, accessing the operating data of the rest of the wind turbine generators, calculating and sending instructions to the rest of the wind turbine generators making up that wind farm, and a subject hierarchy, receiving and following the instructions coming from the leader wind turbine generator of the wind farm. |
| US08355819B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for igniting wide range of turbine fuels
In operating a gas turbine, there can be a difference between the desired heating value of the fuel and the actual needs of the fuel for the supplied fuel to be ignited. In one aspect, fuel parameters related to the molecular weight of the fuel such as specific gravity and pressure drop are determined. Ignitability of the fuel is calculated based on the fuel parameters and adjusted as necessary to bring the fuel's ignitability to designed values. The fuel's ignitability can be calculated without actually igniting the fuel and also without direct knowledge of the fuel's calorific value or its composition. |
| US08355818B2 |
Robots, systems, and methods for hazard evaluation and visualization
A robot includes a hazard sensor, a locomotor, and a system controller. The robot senses a hazard intensity at a location of the robot, moves to a new location in response to the hazard intensity, and autonomously repeats the sensing and moving to determine multiple hazard levels at multiple locations. The robot may also include a communicator to communicate the multiple hazard levels to a remote controller. The remote controller includes a communicator for sending user commands to the robot and receiving the hazard levels from the robot. A graphical user interface displays an environment map of the environment proximate the robot and a scale for indicating a hazard intensity. A hazard indicator corresponds to a robot position in the environment map and graphically indicates the hazard intensity at the robot position relative to the scale. |
| US08355815B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for manipulating cutting elements for earth-boring drill bits and tools
Methods include one or more of robotically positioning a cutting element on an earth-boring tool, using a power-driven device to move a cutting element on an earth-boring tool, and robotically applying a bonding material for attaching a cutting element to an earth-boring tool. Robotic systems are used to robotically position a cutting element on an earth-boring tool. Systems for orienting a cutting element relative to a tool body include a power-driven device for moving a cutting element on or adjacent the tool body. Systems for positioning and orienting a cutting element on an earth-boring tool include such a power-driven device and a robot for carrying a cutting element. Systems for attaching a cutting element to an earth-boring tool include a robot carrying a torch for heating at least one of a cutting element, a tool body, and a bonding material. |
| US08355804B2 |
Interface for sensor query and control
Systems and methods are presented that enable a higher-level software application to query and control a sensor through a generic interface. In one embodiment, a system includes a controller, and interface, and a set of sensor driver modules. The interface receives a command from the controller and sends it to the driver modules. The interface includes a client, a server, and a network. The server includes two interfaces: a client interface to communicate with the client and a driver interface to communicate with the driver modules. The server also includes two buffers: a command queue and a reply queue. The command queue stores commands received from the controller (via the client). The reply queue stores replies received from the driver modules. |
| US08355799B2 |
Systems and methods for limiting joint temperature
Joint temperature monitoring and control systems and methods are described herein in which the temperature of a fluid within a body or joint space is determined and/or monitored despite the energy generated during treatment by an ablation probe. One or more temperature sensors are positioned along the probe proximally of the electrode assembly and measure the temperature of an electrically conductive fluid without being overly influenced by the surgical effect occurring proximate the electrode assembly. The controller coupled to the probe can also be configured to set temperature limits and treatment times as well as moderating joint temperature by altering the electrically conductive fluid flow. |
| US08355796B1 |
Secondary side load detection in an electrotherapy apparatus
A load detecting circuit has a primary side and a secondary side with a secondary side patient load impedance input having a patient-side opto-isolator and a secondary side reference resistance load input having a reference-side opto-isolator coupled to the secondary side patient load impedance input. The circuit also includes at least one primary side output resistor, wherein the patient-side opto-isolator and the reference-side opto-isolator drive the at least one primary side output resistor and an integrator for operatively controlling the secondary side and conveying the patient load input and the reference load input to the primary side, where the patient load input and the reference load input are powered by a secondary side transformer winding. |
| US08355789B2 |
Method and apparatus providing asynchronous neural stimulation
Method and apparatus providing asynchronous neural stimulation pseudo-randomly varying at least one of a plurality of stimulation parameters. Neural stimulation may be monitored and compared with a target. Parameters may be varied to more closely match stimulation target. A range for at least one parameter may be established and the parameter varied within the range. A finite sequence of values within the range may be generated or selected. An average of the finite sequence of values may approximate the stimulation target. |
| US08355784B2 |
Dynamic representation of multipolar leads in a programmer interface
An external programming system for programming an implantable medical device includes a user display and a memory storing multiple intracardiac lead images. The intracardiac lead images correspond to lead types and includes electrodes spaced according to the spacing of electrodes of a particular lead type. The programmer selects one of the lead images for display based on an indication of which type of lead has been implanted in a patient. The selected image is displayed to a user as part of a graphical user interface for programming cardiac pacing therapy for the patient. |
| US08355783B2 |
Distributed lead functionality testing
Techniques for performing lead functionality tests, e.g., lead impedance tests, for implantable electrical leads are described. In some of the described embodiments, an implantable medical device determines whether a patient is in a target activity state, e.g., an activity state in which lead impedance testing will be unobtrusive, such as when a patient is asleep, or capture information of particular interest, such as when the patient is active, in a particular posture, or changing postures. The implantable medical device performs the lead functionality test based on this determination. Additionally, in some embodiments, the implantable medical device may group a plurality of measurements for a single lead functionality test into a plurality of sessions, and perform the measurement sessions interleaved with delivery of therapeutic stimulation. |
| US08355778B2 |
Trunk width measuring unit and visceral fat measuring device
To provide a trunk width measuring unit capable of improving reliability of measurement precision, and a visceral fat measuring device. The trunk width measuring unit is provided with a first contact portion to be brought into contact with an upper surface of a trunk of a user in a supine position, a second contact portion to be brought into contact with one of side surfaces of the trunk, a third contact portion to be brought into contact with the other side surface of the trunk, and a trunk width calculating unit for calculating vertical width and horizontal width of the trunk from height from an upper surface of a bed to a contact position of the first contact portion and a distance between the second contact portion and the third contact portion. |
| US08355769B2 |
System for the assessment of sleep quality in adults and children
Systems and methods for assessment of sleep quality in adults and children are provided. These techniques include an apparatus worn above the forehead containing the circuitry for collecting and storing physiological signals. The apparatus integrates with a sensor strip and a nasal mask to obtain the physiological signals for the user. The form factor of this apparatus is comfortable, easy to self-apply, and results in less data artifacts than conventional techniques for capturing physiological data for analyzing sleep quality. Neuro-respiratory signals are analyzed using means to extract more accurate definitions of the frequency and severity of sleep discontinuity, sleep disordered breathing and patterns of sleep architecture. Biological biomarkers and questionnaire responses can also be compared to a database of healthy and chronically diseased patients to provide a more accurate differential diagnosis and to help determine the appropriate disease management recommendations. |
| US08355767B2 |
Raman spectroscopy for non-invasive glucose measurements
The present invention relates to the use of Raman spectroscopy for quantitative, non-invasive transcutaneous measurement of blood analytes, such as glucose. Raman spectroscopy is used to measure glucose transcutaneously, in patients whose blood glucose levels were monitored. Raman spectra were collected transcutaneously along with glucose reference values provided by standard capillary blood analysis. A partial least squares calibration was created from the data from each subject and validated using leave-one-out cross validation. |
| US08355766B2 |
Ceramic emitter substrate
A ceramic emitter substrate has a substrate body with top and bottom sides and a cavity disposed on the top side. Bonding pads are disposed within the cavity and solder pads are disposed on the bottom side. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are electrically connected to the bonding pads. Low-resistance conductors are disposed within the ceramic substrate body so as to interconnect the bonding pads and the solder pads. The interconnect is configured so that the LEDs can be individually activated as an array via row and column drive signals applied to the solder pads. |
| US08355765B2 |
Magnetic vacuum systems and devices for use with superconducting-based computing systems
Magnetic shields and magnetic shielding systems are described. The excessive spatial demands of known mu-metal/cryoperm and superconducting shielding systems are reduced by a new multi-piece shield construction approach. A complete magnetic shielding system for use with superconducting-based computing systems, such as superconducting quantum computing systems, is also described. This complete system may include mu-metal/cryoperm shields and superconducting shields using either compensatory magnetic fields, expulsion by temperature gradients, or a combination of the two. |
| US08355763B2 |
Portable radiotelephone
An overlapping type portable radiotelephone includes a first housing having at least a display section and speakers, and a second housing having at least a main operation section and a microphone. The first and second housings are coupled each other so as to be opened and closed. The main operation section is covered with the first housing in a closed state and exposed outside in an opened state. A display screen in the display section and the speakers are exposed outside both in the closed state and in the opened state. With this overlapping type portable radiotelephone, conversation can be effected even in the closed state, and there is further provided a communication control section for enabling the conversation to be continued, even though the portable radiotelephone is brought into the opened state from the closed state while the conversation is in progress. |
| US08355760B2 |
Portable terminal having reinforcement member
A portable terminal is provided. The terminal includes a reinforcement member mounted in a housing of the portable terminal, a plurality of coupling pieces, a removable cover member, and a plurality of coupling grooves corresponding to the plurality of coupling pieces, in which a battery pack mounted in the housing is interposed between the removable cover member and the reinforcement member. The width of a coupling structure required for securing a coupling force for the removable cover member can be reduced by at least about 10% when compared to a conventional coupling structure, thereby securing a strong coupling force and contributing to expansion of a battery capacity for a portable terminal having a specific size. |
| US08355755B2 |
Mobile terminal
Disclosed is a mobile terminal including, first and second bodies rotatably coupled to each other, and a driving unit configured to allow a relative rotation of the first and second bodies between a closed configuration and an open configuration, the first and second bodies being overlaid by each other in the closed configuration and rotated away from each other in the open configuration, wherein the driving unit includes rotation motion units connected to each of the first and second bodies and configured to generate the relative rotation, and slide motion units cooperatively operating with the rotation motion unit and configured to relatively slide the first and second bodies with respect to the driving unit between the closed configuration and the open configuration. |
| US08355749B2 |
Dual mode terminal, base station, and content controller, and content transmission method thereof, and terminal cradle
Provided are a dual mode terminal, a base station, and a content controller, and a content transmission method thereof, and a terminal cradle. A cellular module of the dual mode terminal may receive a content from the base station through a cellular communication. A signal processor may release a compression of the received content and output the content. A short-range communication module may transmit the output content to a short-range terminal using a wideband. |
| US08355747B1 |
Enhanced coverage and throughput using multiple wireless technologies
Systems and methods for dual wireless communication technology communications are provided. A mobile station communicates with two transceivers of a base site, where each transceiver operates according to a different wireless communication technology. The mobile station can communicate uplink and downlink control information with a first transceiver of the base site while also communicating uplink and downlink data with a second transceiver. Alternatively, the mobile station may transmit uplink transmissions only to a first transceiver and only receive downlink transmissions from a second transceiver. |
| US08355744B2 |
Enhancing uplink link budget in OFDMA communication systems
Methods and apparatus to enhance uplink link budget in Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) communication systems are described. In one embodiment, a wireless device may increase its transmit power and/or perform subchannel repetition (e.g., in a WiMAX environment) based on at least one indication by an access point. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08355740B1 |
Dynamic paging concatenation
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dynamically selecting a paging-concatenation level for a page based on one or more properties of the page. An exemplary method involves, at a wireless communication network that is configured to provide service to at least one wireless-communication device, using at least one property of a page record as a basis for selecting a paging-concatenation level for the page record, and paging the wireless-communication device by transmitting a page message that includes the page record, wherein the page message is of the selected paging-concatenation level. Various properties of the page record, such as the paging-attempt status and/or the target mobile station of the page, among others, may be used to select the paging-concatenation level. |
| US08355737B2 |
Enhanced mobile location
A method for obtaining a local path loss versus range model in a radio communications network is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining at least one path loss measurement and an associated range measurement at an approximated location of a mobile radio terminal within the radio communications network and applying this to a path loss versus range model to obtain the local path loss versus range model. The local model may also be used to obtain a more accurate location of the mobile radio terminal within the radio communications network. |
| US08355734B2 |
Wireless system
The capacity of a cellular wireless system is increased by operation of base stations or base station sectors arranged to re-use radio resource elements that are used by neighboring base stations or base station sectors, in conjunction with operation of relay stations, which are similarly arranged to re-use radio resource elements used by neighboring relay stations, and where the radio resource elements re-used by the relay stations are different to those used by the base stations. The relay stations provide coverage, particularly in the areas at the boundaries between the areas of coverage of base stations that suffer from interference between signals transmitted from the respective base stations. In addition, the relay stations generally increase the average available carrier to interference ratio compared with a system in which base stations alone are deployed. The scheme for the allocation of radio resource elements ensures in particular that interference is avoided between signals transmitted from a base station and signals transmitted from a relay station in radio resource elements allocated to control data. |
| US08355732B2 |
Method of dimensioning a transport network for a radio access network of a mobile radio network
The present invention provides a method of dimensioning a transport network for a radio access network of a mobile radio network, said method including dynamic adaptation of the transport configuration as a function of transport traffic capacity requirements. |
| US08355725B2 |
Method and node in a communications network
The invention relates to a method in a node for ordering a handover process to handover a user equipment, being in active mode, from a first cell of a first frequency to second cell of a second frequency, being different than the first frequency, comprising the steps of: receiving (82, 92) data relating to a third cell of a third frequency, being the same as the first frequency, from the user equipment, determining (84, 94), based on the received data, that the third cell is a cell to which a soft handover cannot be performed, and, that being the case, ordering a handover process (86, 97) to handover the user equipment to the second cell in order to prevent interference with the third cell. |
| US08355722B1 |
Service initiation based on alternative resources and QoS
First and second indicators that indicate the availability of an air link resource are received from a first base station and second base station, respectively, that are in communication with a wireless device. A third indicator and a fourth indicator that indicate the availability of an access network resource are received from the first base station and the second base station, respectively. A core network resource indicator is received. The first base station is selected based on the first indicator, the second indicator, the third indicator, and the fourth indicator. A path resource indicator is determined based on the first indicator, the third indicator, and the core network resource indicator. The path resource indicator is communicated to the wireless device. A response to the path resource indicator is received from the wireless device. |
| US08355721B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing communication of compressed mode capabilities
A method in a mobile communications apparatus, the mobile communications apparatus operable to communicate with a wireless communications network using a plurality of frequency bands, the mobile communications apparatus being capable of performing a measurement of one frequency band while using another or the same frequency band, the method comprising sending a measurement capability message to the wireless communications network, the measurement capability message including an information element designating the requirement for compressed mode for more than one of a plurality of combinations of a particular frequency band being used when another or the same frequency band is measured. |
| US08355719B2 |
Method for establishing base station information of femtocell base station, and femtocell base station applied therewith
A method for setting base station information of a femtocell base station includes: upon a power application to the femtocell base station, setting all or some of terminals accessing the femtocell base station as console terminals; and receiving a radio environment parameter related to radio environment around each console terminal from the console terminals through a communication interface unit. The method further includes setting the base station information including an operation mode of the femtocell base station and a cell identifier of a femtocell covered by the femtocell base station based on the first radio environment parameter. |
| US08355718B2 |
RF4CE-based terminal and communication system thereof
A Radio Frequency for Consumer Electronics (RF4CE)-based terminal and a system therefor are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of terminals each having an RF4CE communication module, and at least one gateway for storing unique Identifier (ID) information and other ID information about a plurality of terminals within a predetermined area in a table and periodically transmitting the table externally. |
| US08355717B2 |
Method and system for registering a smartcard terminal with a broadcast server
A method and system for registration with a broadcast server is provided. A request from a smartcard terminal for registration is received and the smartcard terminal is authenticated based on the request. Further, A specific key material, Ks_NAF, is generated in response to the request. At least one of registering the smartcard terminal with the Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) server and with the broadcast server simultaneously, and registering the smartcard terminal with the IMS server and subsequently with the broadcast server through the IMS server, is performed. At least one of notifying the IMS server of status of the registration by the broadcast server, and notifying the broadcast server of the status of the registration by the IMS server, is performed. The system includes a smartcard terminal for sending a request for registration, a key generator for generating a Ks_NAF, and an IMS server and a broadcast server for authentication and security association establishment with the smartcard terminal using the Ks_NAF. |
| US08355715B2 |
Client module, multimedia server and methods for use therewith
An encoded signal is modulated to produce a first radio frequency (RF) signal that is transmitted to a client module over a first transceiver channel when a first transceiver module is in a transceive mode. A channel scan is performed when the first transceiver module is in a scan mode. The encoded signal is modulated to produce a second RF signal and that is transmitted over a second transceiver channel when a second transceiver module is in a transceive mode. |
| US08355709B2 |
Device that determines whether to launch an application locally or remotely as a webapp
A utility program executing on a mobile communication device decides whether to launch an application remotely as a Webapp or whether to launch the application locally on the mobile communication device. The decision is based at least in part on an estimate of how much of a resource the application would consume were the application to be launched and executed on the mobile communication device. Examples of resources include battery capacity, memory capacity, and processing power capacity. If the total amount of a resource consumed by currently executing applications and the application to be launched would exceed a threshold amount, then the utility uses a browser on the mobile communication device to launch the application remotely as a Webapp, otherwise the utility program causes the application to be launched locally. The utility program has a graphical user interface (GUI) whereby utility program operation can be configured and customized. |
| US08355695B2 |
Secured data transmission in communications system
A solution for providing a data security service in a wireless communications system (S) is disclosed. In the solution, a first security association (SA1) is established between an anchor node (LMA1) located in a home operator network (N1) and a concentrator node (Ha) located in an interconnecting operator network (GRXa). In addition, a second security association (SA2, SA3, SA4, SA5) is established between an access node (MAG1, MAG2, MAG3, MAG4, MAG5) located in a roaming operator network (N2, N3, N4, N5) and the concentrator node (Ha, Hb) located in the interconnecting operator network (GRXa, GRXb). A user terminal (UE1-2, UE1-3, UE1-4, UE1-5) roaming in the roaming operator network (N2, N3, N4, N5) can then access external network services (E) by utilizing the first security association (SA1) and the second security association (SA2, SA3, SA4, SA5), respectively. |
| US08355694B2 |
Obviating mobile airtime minutes for business telephone calls
Systems and methods are described that provide a phantom mobile telephone number that is assigned by the mobile telephone service provider, for business customers and/or customers subscribing to the service. Upon receipt of the phantom mobile telephone number at the mobile service provider's internal call routing system, the call is associated with a preexisting landline number assigned to a business. The mobile telephone call is forwarded to the preexisting landline telephone number and is not charged airtime minutes. |
| US08355692B2 |
System and method for transmitting user data received by an authorized approver
This present invention relates to a system, method, and apparatus for an authorized approver (AA) to receive and transmit information to contacts of an end user or others. The authorized approvers may receive, for example, voice, data or video or a combination thereof from the end user. Said authorized approver may view the received information on a back-end server or on a telecommunications device including but not limited to a mobile device or mobile internet device. The authorized approvers may retransmit the end user data to one or more contacts of the end user. Before such retransmission, the authorized approver, may amend, summarize, modify, tag, or otherwise edit the end user information before sending it on to the end user contacts. |
| US08355688B2 |
Method and system for frequency selection using microstrip transceivers for high-speed applications
Aspects of a method and system for frequency selection using microstrip transceivers for high-speed applications may include determining an operating frequency for operating one or both of a transmitter and a receiver. A frequency response and/or impedance of one or more transmission lines that may be utilized by the transmitter and/or the receiver may be controlled by adjusting one or more capacitances, communicatively coupled to the transmission lines based on the determined operating frequency. The capacitances may be coupled to the one or more transmission line at arbitrary physical spots, and may comprise capacitors and/or varactors. The capacitors and/or the varactors may be adjusted with a digital signal or an analog signal. The capacitances may comprise a matrix arrangement of capacitors and/or varactors. The one or more transmission lines may comprise a microstrip. |
| US08355686B2 |
Radio preset key assignment method and apparatus
A system and method for assigning received channels to preset tuning keys of a receiver. A series of preset keys are sequentially labeled and one preset key, such as the preset key marked “0,” is a pre-defined preset key. An elongated pressing of the pre-defined key causes the currently tuned channel, if it is not assigned to a preset key, to be assigned to an unassigned preset key. If the currently tuned channel is already assigned to a preset key, pressing the pre-defined key instead causes the currently selected channel to be un-assigned from that preset key. Radios with two tuners that each process different sets of radio signals assign channels for a particular tuner to alternating preset keys, allowing acceleration of sequentially selecting channels assigned to pre-set keys by pre-tuning another tuner to the next channel in the sequence. |
| US08355685B2 |
Segmented CDMA searching
Techniques for segmented CDMA searching are disclosed. In one aspect, a searcher comprises a plurality of storage elements selectable for performing a plurality of segmentable search tasks, each storage element operable for storage of and access to state information for one of the plurality of search tasks. In another aspect, a first search task is interrupted in progress, the state information for the first task is stored, a second search task is performed, and the first search task is continued using the stored state information. In yet another aspect, a search task is segmented into smaller search segments, sized to fit within contiguous available time in the searcher. Various other aspects of the invention are also presented. These aspects have the benefit of circuit area and search-time efficiency which translate into reduced costs, increased standby time, increased acquisition speed, higher quality signal transmission, increased data throughput, decreased power, and improved overall system capacity. |
| US08355682B2 |
Radio transmitter and method for transmission of combined signal
A radio transmitter is disclosed which comprises at least two transmit paths. A combiner is connected to the at least two transmit paths for combining modified transmit signals on the at least two transmit paths to form a combined signal. The radio transmitter further comprises a; power amplifier for receiving and power amplifying the combined signal resulting in an amplified combined signal, at least one feedback path for sampling the amplified combined signal and at least two predistortion elements connected to the at least one feedback path and adapted to produce at least two individual predistortion functions for modification of the transmit signals in the at least two frequency bands to produce the modified transmit signals on the at least two transmit paths, resulting in a corrected amplified combined signal. A method for the transmission of a combined signal, wherein the combined signal comprises signals from different frequency bands, is also disclosed. |
| US08355673B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for configuration automation
Methods and apparatuses for automated configuring of user preferences. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to operate a data processing system, includes: detecting whether or not a portable device is connected to the data processing system; and automatically configuring one or more user preferences of the data processing system according to an identity of the portable device in response to a change in whether or not the portable device is connected to the data processing system. In one aspect of the present invention, call forwarding of at least one of a land line phone and a mobile phone is automatically configured when the mobile phone is brought close to the land line phone or when the mobile phone is taken away from the land line phone. |
| US08355671B2 |
Method and apparatus for transporting video signal over Bluetooth wireless interface
A wireless wearable video headset device useful for viewing and listening to multimedia content. In one embodiment, the device operates by receiving a digital encoded audio/video signal from a host device of a Bluetooth™ wireless connection, the Bluetooth™ connection established via a Serial Port Profile (SPP), and the digital video signal having been previously compressed with Windows Media Video (WMV) or H. 264 compliant compression. The received digital audio/video signal is then forwarded over a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection to an internal processor which then decompressed video content in the digital video signal to generate a component video signal that is suitable for handling by a display driver. |
| US08355670B2 |
Near field communication adapters
Devices and systems are disclosed which relate to enabling NFC communication on devices such as an iPhone. A traditional smart card tray is modified to include contact leads from the inside of the smart card tray to an exterior surface of the smart card tray. Exposed contacts on the external surface provide an outside interface for add-ons. An exemplary add-on is an NFC circuit coupled to or embedded within a mobile device skin. The skin fits snugly around a portion of the mobile device, and includes on one surface contact points that line up with the outside interface of the mobile device. The contact points provide electrical communication between NFC circuitry of the mobile device skin and the smart card within the mobile device. When the skin is worn on the mobile device, the mobile device is NFC enabled. When the skin is removed, the NFC is no longer available. |
| US08355668B2 |
Relay station, relay method, receiving station and receiving method
A relay station includes a receiver that receives a signal from a base transceiver station, a detection unit that detects a carrier frequency deviation of the received signal, and a calculation unit that calculates a delay rate of the signal based on the detected carrier frequency deviation. The relay station includes a delay control unit that controls an amount of delay of the signal in accordance with the calculated delay rate, a compensation unit that compensates for the detected carrier frequency deviation of the signal, and a transmitter that transmits the signal of which the amount of delay is controlled and of which the carrier frequency deviation is compensated for. |
| US08355666B2 |
Apparatus and method for interference-adaptive communications
In embodiments, an adaptive tone erasure technique is applied to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communications, such as ECMA-368 standard ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. A transmitter obtains jammed sub-carrier information and calculates an erasure mask. The jammed sub-carriers are nulled before transmitting to a receiver. In accordance with the erasure mask, bits falling on the jammed sub-carriers are replaced by erasure bits before interleaving, keeping the interleaver block size constant notwithstanding variations in the number of the jammed sub-carriers. The receiver also obtains the jammed sub-carrier information and the erasure mask. After the receiver deinterleaves the constant size blocks, it decodes the data without the erasure bits. The transmitter may detect the jammed sub-carriers itself, or obtain the information from the receiver. The receiver similarly may detect the jammed sub-carriers itself, or obtain the information from the transmitter. |
| US08355664B2 |
Cleaning device for photosensitive drum and image forming apparatus equipped with cleaning device
A cleaning device for a photosensitive drum includes a cleaning roller, a cleaning blade, and a layer control member. The layer control member may include an upstream scraper having a surface that surface contacts the cleaning roller in a substantially same direction as a rotation direction of the cleaning roller. In addition, the layer control member may include a downstream scraper having an edge that contacts the cleaning roller. The downstream scraper may be positioned downstream of the contact position between the cleaning roller and the upstream scraper in the rotation direction of the cleaning roller. In some embodiments, the downstream scraper edge may line contact the cleaning roller in a direction opposing the rotation direction of the cleaning roller. |
| US08355662B2 |
Heat generating sleeve, fixing device and image forming apparatus
A heat generating sleeve (19) having a high ability to control an amount of heat generation of itself and sufficient strength comprises a heat controlling layer (30) consisting of annealed permalloy, and a main heating layer (31) consisting of unannealed metal plated on a surface of the heat controlling layer (30). |
| US08355661B2 |
Fusing device including resistive heating layer and image forming apparatus including the fusing device
A fusing device includes; a heating member having a resistive heating layer constituting an outermost portion of the heating member, a nip forming member facing the heating member to form a fusing nip therewith, and a plurality of current supplying electrodes which contact an outer circumference of the resistive heating layer to supply electrical current to the resistive heating layer. |
| US08355659B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus having same
A fixing device of the present invention includes: an external heating belt which is to contact with a surface of a fixing roller so as to heat up the fixing roller; and a cleaning member (a scraper and/or cleaning pad) which is to contact with the external heating belt. The cleaning pad which is impregnated with silicone oil is to contact with a surface of the external heating belt, thereby applying the silicone oil (release agent) to the surface of the external heating belt. This makes it possible to prevent generation of an offset. |
| US08355658B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a mechanism for detecting a mark on a belt
A circumferential length of a belt is measured within a short period of time. A plurality of marks is provided on a belt. Distances between the marks are set to be all different from each other. The distance between the marks is set to allow the mark to be identified by measuring a period of time between the detection of one mark and that of the next mark even if the length of the belt is changed to some degree by the expansion of the belt or the like. Then, a period of time between the identified mark and the next mark is accurately measured. The total circumferential length of the belt is measured based on the results of measurement. |
| US08355657B2 |
Development unit, for image forming apparatus
A development unit includes a toner carrying device, a regulating member, and a toner leak protection member. The toner carrying device having a first electrode and a second electrode arrayed with an interval. The first and second electrodes are supplied with a given voltage to set an electric field, changing in a time cycle, between the first and second electrodes. The electric field is used to hop toner over the toner carrying device to form a toner cloud for developing a latent image. The regulating member regulates an amount of toner on the toner carrying device. The toner leak protection member, made from a conductive material, prevents leakage of toner, and is supplied with a bias voltage. |
| US08355655B2 |
Development apparatus
In a development apparatus including conveying screws which circulates and conveys developer in a developer container as being rotated, a developing sleeve which bears and conveys developer in the developer container as being rotated, and a restriction blade which restricts developer quantity at the developing sleeve, the developer container includes a supply chamber to supply developer to the developing sleeve and a retrieval chamber to retrieve developer from the developing sleeve, and rotation speed of the conveying screws or rotation speed of the developing sleeve is changed so that Vsc/Vsl during image forming is not performed is to be smaller than that during image forming is performed, as Vsc denotes the rotation speed of the conveying screws and Vsl denotes the rotation speed of the developing sleeve. |
| US08355649B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus using the same
Disclosed herein is a developing device. The developing device includes a housing having a toner containing unit and a developing unit, a partition member, having a toner supply window, coupled to the housing to partition the toner containing unit and the developing unit, a barrier film attached to the partition member to close the toner supply window, the barrier film having one end exposed out of the housing through a discharge port provided at a side wall of the housing, and a sheet member to guide and discharge the barrier film out of the housing. |
| US08355645B2 |
Image forming device for making quality adjustments based on calibration data, and method and computer readable medium therefor
An image forming device, configured to make image quality adjustment based on calibration data, includes a storage configured to store the calibration data for the image quality adjustment, an acquiring unit configured to acquire first image data, a converter configured to, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, convert the first image data acquired by the acquiring unit into second image data by placing, into the first image data, test pattern data for forming one or more test patterns, an image forming unit configured to form an image based on the second image data on an image-formed body thereof, a sensor configured to measure densities of the test patterns included in the image formed on the image-formed body, and a modifying unit configured to modify the calibration data stored on the storage based on the densities measured by the sensor. |
| US08355642B2 |
Image forming apparatus which continues to convey a sheet if the sheet is only slightly delayed
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes a recording medium feeding unit that feeds a recording medium to a predetermined conveyance path; a conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium fed from the recording medium feeding unit on the conveyance path; a conveyance status detection unit that detects a conveyance status of the recording medium placed on the conveyance path; a control unit that controls operations of the recording medium feeding unit, the conveyance unit, and the conveyance status detection unit; and an accommodation unit that accommodates the recording medium. The control unit controls the feeding of the recording medium with the recording medium feeding unit and the conveyance of the recording medium with the conveyance unit based on a detection result of the conveyance status detection unit, thereby discharging the recording medium present in the image forming apparatus to the accommodation unit. |
| US08355635B1 |
Gyro-aided pointing control for laser communications
A method for pointing control of a laser communication terminal on a spacecraft may include measuring a line-of-sight (LOS) error of the laser communication terminal. The method may also include estimating a LOS error of the laser communication terminal based on measurements from a spacecraft gyro and a gimbal gyro onboard the spacecraft. The method may further include switching from a LOS error measurement feedback to a LOS error estimate feedback to control pointing of the laser communication terminal during a power fade condition. |
| US08355633B2 |
Communication network management system, wavelength-division multiplex apparatus, communication management apparatus, communication network management method and communication network management program
A communication network management system including a node apparatus 10 provided with a wavelength detecting part 110 which detects the wavelength of an optical wave transmitted through a path, a destination node detecting part which detects a node apparatus connected to a transmission path, a connection information storage part 112 which stores connection information, a connection information sending part 113 which sends connection information to an NMS terminal, and a path setting part 114 which sets path based on path setting data received from the NMS terminal 20; and an NMS terminal provided with a connection information detecting part 220 which receives connection information from the node apparatus 10, a path setting data generating part 221 which generates path setting data of the node apparatus 10 based on the connection information and a path setting data sending part 222 which sends path setting data to the node apparatus 10. |
| US08355617B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit that records information data on a mounted recording medium; a detecting unit that detects first identification information for identifying a mounted first recording medium; and a generating unit that generates second identification information related to the first identification information detected by the detecting unit when a second recording medium is mounted instead of the first recording medium. The recording unit records the second identification information generated by the generating unit on the second recording medium. |
| US08355614B2 |
Optical waveguide
In an exemplary embodiment, an optical waveguide (10) includes a first dielectric medium (11). In the first dielectric medium (11), line-defect rods (12) are arranged in one row and non-line-defect rods (13) are arranged along the row of line-defect rods (12) and on both sides of the row of the line-defect rods (12). The line-defect rods (12) and non-line-defect rods (13) form a two-dimensional square lattice. Of the rows of non-line-defect rods (13) arranged on the two sides of the row of line-defect rods (12), the number of rows of non-line-defect rods (13) on at least one side is at least one and no greater than five. |
| US08355613B2 |
Optical fiber cables
Described is an optical fiber cable designed for drop cable applications that has a compact profile, and is suitable for both the indoor and outdoor portions of the installation. The new design has three functional units, an optical fiber subunit, and two strength members arranged side-by side on either side of the optical fiber. The overall cable cross section round. In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber module of the cable has a coupled fiber design. |
| US08355611B2 |
Photonic crystal element
A waveguide stub is connected to a pillar-type square-lattice photonic crystal waveguide. Within the waveguide stub, the diameter of a defect is made larger than that of the original photonic crystal waveguide thereby reducing the group velocity of a guided light. The original waveguide and the waveguide stub are smoothly connected via a taper waveguide. Because of low group velocity of light in the waveguide stub, free spectral range (FSR) decreases thereby allowing the size of the waveguide stub to be reduced. |
| US08355609B2 |
Lens arrangement for optical rotary joints
According to one embodiment, an optical rotary joint comprises a first collimator arrangement for coupling-on first light-waveguides, and a second collimator arrangement for coupling-on second light-waveguides, with the latter being rotatably supported relative to the first collimator arrangement about a rotation axis. A Dove prism is provided between the first and second collimator arrangements as a derotating element. The first and second collimator arrangements have at least one micro-lens array on which light-waveguides with associated ferrules are disposed. In order to avoid tensile forces from arising in the arrangement, or as a result of individual ferrules becoming interconnected by an applied adhesive, trenches, barriers, or also coatings are provided between the individual ferrules. |
| US08355607B2 |
Fiber optic rotary joint mechanism
A multi-channel fiber optic rotary joint mechanism has been invented in which optic signals can be transmitted simultaneously from a rotating fiber optic collimator bundle and a stationary fiber optic collimator bundle through an opto-mechanical de-rotating mechanism, which includes an optic de-rotating element, an internal gear and an flexure anti-backlash mechanism. The optic de-rotating element, is positioned in the path between said rotating fiber optic collimator bundle and said stationary fiber optic collimator bundle. The internal gear mechanism provides 2:1 speed ratio for the rotating fiber optic collimator bundle and the optic de-rotating element. |
| US08355606B2 |
Ultrafast and ultralow threshold single emitter optical switch
Electrical control of the emitter of a coupled quantum emitter-resonant cavity structure is provided. Electrodes are disposed near a semiconductor quantum dot coupled to a semiconductor optical cavity such that varying an applied bias at the electrodes alters an electric field at the quantum dot. Optical input and output ports are coupled to the cavity, and an optical response of the device relates light emitted from the output port to light provided to the input port. Altering the applied bias at the electrodes is capable of altering the optical response. Preferably, the closest electrode to the cavity is disposed between or away from angular lobes of the cavity mode, to reduce loss caused by the proximity of electrode to cavity. The present approach is applicable to both waveguide-coupled devices and non-waveguide devices. |
| US08355605B1 |
Isolating light paths
Optical waveguides can extend alongside one another in sufficient proximity such that light couples between or among them as crosstalk. The electromagnetic field associated with light flowing in one optical waveguide can extend to an adjacent optical waveguide and induce unwanted light flow. The optical waveguide receiving the crosstalk can comprise a phase shifting capability, such as a longitudinal variation in refractive index, situated between two waveguide lengths. Crosstalk coupled onto the first waveguide length can flow through the refractive index variation, be phase shifted, and then flow onto the second waveguide length. The phase shifted crosstalk flowing on the second waveguide can meet other crosstalk that has coupled directly onto the second waveguide segment. The phase difference between the two crosstalks can suppress crosstalk via destructive interference. Destructive interference can also result from disposing a phase shifting provision in a crosstalk coupling path located between two optical waveguides. |
| US08355596B2 |
Image generation method and apparatus, program therefor, and storage medium which stores the program
An image generation method for generating image information of an image C by using an image A and an image B having a bit depth higher than that of image A. Image C having the same bit depth as image B is generated by increasing the bit depth of image A by means of tone mapping; presence or absence of a point in image B corresponding to each pixel position of image C and the position of the relevant corresponding point are estimated; and to each pixel position in image C for which it is estimated that there is a corresponding point, image information of the corresponding position in image B is assigned. It is possible to generate image information at each pixel position in image C for which it is estimated in the corresponding point estimation that there is no corresponding point, by using the image information assigned according to an estimation result that there is a corresponding point. |
| US08355592B1 |
Generating a modified image with semantic constraint
A computer-implemented method for generating a modified image includes initiating, in a computer device, a patch-based optimization algorithm for using a first image to generate a second image. The method includes identifying, in a computer device, a first feature of a first image. The identification corresponds to a constraint on the first feature for generating a second image, The constraint restricts at least one of location and geometric orientation in the second image of patches representing the first feature. The method includes identifying, using the computer device, contents for the second image by processing patches in the image in iterations of the patch-based optimization algorithm. The patch-based optimization complies with the constraint, The method includes generating the second image from the identified contents based on the iterations of the patch-based optimization algorithm. The second image includes a second feature generated to represent the first feature and complying with the constraint. |
| US08355591B2 |
Lossless compression process for interferograms
A process and apparatus for lossless data compression including the step of generating characteristic tables for predicted intensities as a function of radius values f(i,j)) on at least one type of preferred axes. Intensity signals of a detector matrix (I(i,j)) are used to implement the invention. |
| US08355583B2 |
Image processing apparatus and apparatus for searching operator
An image processing apparatus includes an extraction unit configured to extract a feature amount from information recorded on a recording medium, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an identification image identifying an operator of the recording apparatus, a storage unit configured to store the feature amount and the identification image, wherein the identification image is associated with the feature amount, a search unit configured to compare a feature amount extracted from a predetermined medium by the extraction unit with the feature amount stored in the storage unit, wherein, based on a result of the comparison, the identification image associated with the stored feature amount is associated with the predetermined medium, and an output unit configured to output the identification image associated with the predetermined medium. |
| US08355580B2 |
Method and system for generating boundary in the process of rasterizing vector graphic as well as method for producing the system
The invention discloses a method and a system for generating a boundary in the process of rasterizing a vector graphic as well as a method for producing the system and a method for clipping the vector graphic. The method for generating a boundary includes: segment-polylining the vector graphic and obtaining data of the line segments; obtaining data of the end pixels according to the data of the line segments; obtaining data of boundary pixels according to the data of the end pixels and the relationship between the data of the end pixels; obtaining bitmap data of the boundary pixels according to the data of the boundary pixels. The algorithm used in the invention is very simple and efficient; at the same time, the generation of the bitmap data of the boundary pixels can be carried out synchronously with the generation of bitmap data of the graphic itself. The invention can be used to be combined with a variety of scan line filling algorithms and the bitmap information of the boundary pixels can be obtained synchronously and efficiently in the process of rasterizing a vector graphic so that the quality of the output bitmap can be improved and controlled accurately. |
| US08355576B2 |
Method and system for crowd segmentation
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for crowd segmentation that can globally optimize crowd segmentation of an input image based on local information of the input image. The method can include receiving an input image of a site, initializing a plurality of hypothesis based on the input image, dividing the input image into a plurality of patches, calculating an affinity measure of one or more patches to a hypothesis based on a partial response of the patches to a whole body classifier of the hypothesis that includes a combination of weak classifiers, and optimizing assignments of the plurality of patches to the plurality of hypothesis based on the affinity measures of the plurality of patches to the plurality of hypothesis. |
| US08355571B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating image for character region extraction
Provided is an apparatus and method for generating an image for character region extraction. Upon input of an original image, a candidate character image is generated from the original image and a plurality of binarization maps for similar colors are generated from the generated candidate character image. A binarization map including a background region is selected from among the plurality of generated binarization maps, and the background region of the selected binarization map is expanded. The expanded background region is inverted to generate an image including a character region, thereby generating an image for accurately extracting the character region without missing a boundary portion of a character. |
| US08355568B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method and computer-readable medium
Provided is an image processing apparatus, method and computer-readable medium. The image processing apparatus, method and computer-readable medium may extract a target object area from an input color image, based on an input depth image and the input color image. For the above image processing, the image processing may extract a silhouette area of a target object from the input depth image and refine the silhouette area of the target object based on the input color image. |
| US08355566B2 |
Method and device for use in converting a colour image into a grayscale image
A computerized device for converting a color image data, indicative of a plurality of color image regions defining a two-dimensional color image, into a grayscale image data indicative of a plurality of grayscale image regions defining a two-dimensional grayscale image, with each of the color image regions corresponding to one of the grayscale image regions. A luminance information and a two-dimensional chromatic information is associated with each of the color image regions. The device includes a processor and a memory store. The memory store is adapted to store a program executable by the processor so as to perform the following steps: determining a principal chromatic component of each of the color image regions; determining a first correlation value; and generating the grayscale image data by reference to the first correlation value. |
| US08355559B2 |
Method and apparatus for reviewing defects
Disclosed is a method for reviewing defects in a large number of samples within a short period of time through the use of a defect review apparatus. To collect defect images steadily and at high throughput, a defect detection method is selected before imaging and set up for each of review target defects in the samples in accordance with the external characteristics of the samples that are calculated from the design information about the samples. The defect images are collected after an imaging sequence is set up for the defect images and reference images in such a manner as to reduce the time required for stage movement in accordance with the defect coordinates of the samples and the selected defect detection method. |
| US08355557B2 |
System and method for decomposed temporal filtering for X-ray guided intervention application
A method for temporally filtering medical images during a fluoroscopy guided intervention procedure includes providing a mask image, a fluoroscopy intervention image acquired at a current time during a medical intervention procedure, forming a subtraction image by subtracting the mask image from the intervention image, calculating a motion image of a moving structure in the subtraction image, forming a residual image by subtracting the motion image from the subtraction image, temporally filtering the residual image with a filtered image from a previous time, and adding the motion image to the temporally filtered residual image. |
| US08355555B2 |
System and method for multi-image based virtual non-contrast image enhancement for dual source CT
A method for enhancing a virtual non-contrast image, includes receiving a pair of dual scan CT images and calculating a virtual non-contrast image from the pair of CT images using known tissue attenuation coefficients. A conditional probability distribution is estimated for tissue at first and second points in each of the pair of CT images and the virtual non-contrast image as being the same type. A conditional probability distribution for tissue is estimated at the first and second points in each of the pair of CT images and the virtual non-contrast image as being of different types. An a posteriori probability of the tissue at the first and second points as being the same type is calculated from the conditional probability distributions, and an enhanced virtual non-contrast image is calculated using the a posteriori probability of the tissue at the first and second points as being the same type. |
| US08355554B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptive volume imaging
Systems and methods which provide volume imaging by implementing survey and target imaging modes are shown. According to embodiments, a survey imaging mode is implemented to provide a volume image of a relatively large survey area. A target of interest is preferably identified within the survey area for use in a target imaging mode. Embodiments implement a target imaging mode to provide a volume image of a relatively small target area corresponding to the identified target of interest. The target imaging mode preferably adapts the beamforming, volume field of view, and/or other signal and image processing algorithms to the target area. In operation according to embodiments, the target imaging mode provides a volume image of a target area with improved volume rate and image quality. |
| US08355544B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for automatic retinal image analysis
Disclosed embodiments include a method for retinal image analysis implemented in a medical system with one or more processors comprising the method steps of: (a) locating an optical disk on the retinal images and establishing a plurality of circumferences centered at the disk; (b) detecting a plurality of vessels within a region defined by said circumferences' radii using a crease-based algorithm; (c) extracting a plurality of vessel segments based on a deformable models (snakes) algorithm; and d) automatically classifying the vessels and computing clinical parameters. |
| US08355542B2 |
Virtual white lines for delimiting planned excavation sites
Methods and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. A digital image that does not include an aerial image of a geographic area including the dig area is displayed on a display device. Via a user input device associated with the display device, at least one indicator is added to the displayed digital image to provide at least one indication of the dig area and thereby generate a marked-up digital image. Information relating to the marked up digital image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig area. |
| US08355540B2 |
Detector and method for identifying a road lane boundary
A detector for identifying a road lane boundary using a digitalized optical image of the region in front of the vehicle. The detector includes a correlator configured to select the edges which are to be used for road lane estimation by searching for extreme values of convolution response, and to weight each convolution response by a weighting factor. A histogram analysis unit configured to group the extracted edges into pairs, and to determine a frequency distribution of the distances between two paired edges as a histogram, and to use said frequency distribution to determine the distances between two grouped edges forming a frequency peak or a frequency plateau in the histogram as nominal edge widths. A weighting factor determination unit configured to determine, for an edge, the weighting factor of the convolution response in the correlator in such a manner that the weight determined by the weighting factor for an edge of the paired edges is higher the smaller the deviation of the distance between the grouped edges from the nominal edge width. |
| US08355539B2 |
Radar guided vision system for vehicle validation and vehicle motion characterization
A method for determining whether a target vehicle in front of a host vehicle intends to change lanes using radar data and image data is disclosed, comprising the steps of processing the image data to detect the boundaries of the lane of the host vehicle; estimating a ground plane by determining a projected vanishing point of the detected lane boundaries; using a camera projection matrix to map the target vehicle from the radar data to image coordinates; and determining lane change intentions of the target vehicle based on a moving trajectory and an appearance change of the target vehicle. Determining lane change intentions based on a moving trajectory of the target vehicle is based on vehicle motion trajectory relative to the center of the lane such that the relative distance of the target vehicle from the center of the lane follows a predetermined trend. Determining lane change intentions based on an appearance change of the target vehicle is based on a template that tracks changes to the appearance of the rear part of the target vehicle due to rotation. |
| US08355536B2 |
Passive electro-optical tracker
A passive electro-optical tracker uses a two-band IR intensity ratio to discriminate high-speed projectiles and obtain a speed estimate from their temperature, as well as determining the trajectory back to the source of fire. In an omnidirectional system a hemispheric imager with an MWIR spectrum splitter forms two CCD images of the environment. Three methods are given to determine the azimuth and range of a projectile, one for clear atmospheric conditions and two for nonhomogeneous atmospheric conditions. The first approach uses the relative intensity of the image of the projectile on the pixels of a CCD camera to determine the azimuthal angle of trajectory with respect to the ground, and its range. The second calculates this angle using a different algorithm. The third uses a least squares optimization over multiple frames based on a triangle representation of the smeared image to yield a real-time trajectory estimate. |
| US08355535B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording events in virtual worlds
A method and an apparatus for recording an event in a virtual world. The method includes acquiring camera view regions of avatars joining the event; identifying one or more key avatars and/or key objects based on information about the targets in the camera view regions of the avatars; setting one or more recorders for the identified one or more key avatars and/or key objects for recording the event such that the one or more key avatars and/or key objects are located in the camera view regions of the one or more recorders. The apparatus includes devices configured to perform the steps of the method. |
| US08355534B2 |
Digital processing method and system for determination of optical flow
A method and system for determining an optical flow field between a pair of images is disclosed. Each of the pair of images is decomposed into image pyramids using a non-octave pyramid factor. The pair of decomposed images is transformed at a first pyramid scale to second derivative representations under an assumption that a brightness gradient of pixels in the pair of decomposed images is constant. Discrete-time derivatives of the second derivative image representations are estimated. An optical flow estimation process is applied to the discrete-time derivatives to produce a raw optical flow field. The raw optical flow field is scaled by the non-octave pyramid factor. The above-cited steps are repeated for the pair of images at another pyramid scale until all pyramid scales have been visited to produce a final optical flow field, wherein spatiotemporal gradient estimations are warped by a previous raw optical flow estimation. |
| US08355528B2 |
Systems and methods for person's verification using photographs on identification documents taken by a verifier-controlled digital camera
One embodiment of the present invention envisions providing requester with a computer program for a remote computer equipped with a digital photo camera. The computer program controls the camera and prevents alterations to an image taken with the camera. The unaltered image of a photo ID is transmitted from the remote computer to the verifier's server computer. The image of the photo ID may further be used to verify the requester by comparing the image to photographs from other sources. |
| US08355527B2 |
Systems and methods for person's verification using photographs on identification documents taken by a verifier-controlled mobile device
One embodiment of the present invention envisions providing requester with an application for a mobile device equipped with a built-in digital photo camera. The application controls the camera and prevents alterations to an image taken with the camera. The unaltered image of a photo ID is transmitted from the mobile device to the verifier's server computer. The image of the photo ID may further be used to verify the requester by comparing the image to the photographs from other sources. |
| US08355525B2 |
Parallel processing of digital watermarking operations
A method of segmenting a media signal for parallel watermarking operations sub-divides the media signal into segments, distributes the segments to parallel processors, and performs parallel digital watermark operations on the segments in the parallel processors. These parallel processors may comprise separate threads of execution on a processing unit, or several execution threads distributed to several processing units. In one enhancement, the method prioritizes the segments for watermarking operations. This enables finite processing resources to be allocated to segments in order of their priority. Further, processing resources are devoted to segments where the digital watermark is more likely to be imperceptible and/or readable. A system for distributed watermark embedding operations includes a watermark signal generator, a perceptual analyzer and a watermark applicator. The system supports operation-level parallelism in the concurrent operation of watermark embedder modules, and data parallelism in the concurrent operation of these modules on segments of a media signal to be embedded with an imperceptible digital watermark. |
| US08355521B2 |
Microphone system for vehicle
A vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an accessory, a reflective element and a bezel. The mirror assembly may define portions of a pocket that at least partially receives and secures the accessory therebetween when the reflective element is at least partially received in the bezel. The mirror assembly may include a microphone and an acoustic cover positioned at least partially over one or more inlet ports of the microphone. The acoustic cover may include an outer air flow limiting layer that substantially limits air flow therethrough and a diffusing material that may space and support the outer layer from the inlet ports to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates the outer layer. An acoustic barrier may be positioned between a pair of inlet ports of the microphone to enhance the directivity of the microphone. |
| US08355520B2 |
Music player
A music player is worn on a limb of a body when in use and includes: a case; a plurality of buttons through which an instruction relating to music reproduction is given; and a band fitting portion to which a band is fittable, the band being used when the case is worn on the limb. In the music player, the case has a chamfer constituted of a plane whose line of intersection with the band is diagonal to a longitudinal direction of the band, the plural buttons are provided on an upper face of the case, an arrangement direction of the plural buttons being parallel to the plane constituting the chamfer, and the chamfer has an audio output terminal. Preferably, the chamfer has a connection terminal to which an exercise state detection sensor for detecting a state of exercise practiced by a wearer of the music player is connectable. |
| US08355519B2 |
Tool for fitting and removing a receiver of a hearing aid
A tool is provided with which a receiver of a hearing aid can be easily fitted into an earpiece or an ear mold and removed therefrom. The tool has an elongate main body, a first tool part for removing the receiver from a first earpiece, a second tool part for removing the receiver from a second earpiece, and a third tool part for fitting the receiver into the first or second earpiece. The elongate main body is divided into a first subsidiary body and a second subsidiary body). The two subsidiary bodies can be plugged at least partially one inside the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the main body. In addition, two of the three tool parts are arranged on one of the two subsidiary bodies, and the remaining tool part is arranged on the other of the two subsidiary bodies. |
| US08355515B2 |
Gaming headset and charging method
An audio headset may comprise a case, near field microphone and far field microphone. A speaker, processor, memory, battery, charging interface and cradle detection circuit may be mounted to the case. Processor-executable instructions embodied in the memory, may be configured to implement a battery charging method. The headset may be shut off in response to placement of the headset in a charging cradle. The far-field microphone is turned on but not the near-field microphone. The battery may then be charged from the cradle. A headset having near-field and far-field microphones may be used to distinguish between user speech and competing sounds by generating signals from the sounds detected by each microphone and comparing the strengths of the signals. The signals may be processed as user speech if they are of comparable strength. Otherwise, the near-field signal may be processed as user speech and the far-field signal as competing sounds. |
| US08355508B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer readable recording medium
An information processing apparatus for collecting apparatus data from an apparatus connected through a network and sending the apparatus data to a server connected through the network includes a recording unit storing a secret key and a public key certificate which are encrypted by key data and commonly distributed; an obtaining unit for obtaining, from the information processing apparatus, individual identification data by which the information processing apparatus can be uniquely identified, sending a request to provide the predetermined key data through the network to the server by specifying the individual identification data, and receiving the key data encrypted by the individual identification data from the server; and a decoder for obtaining the individual identification data from the information processing apparatus, decoding the key data by using the individual identification data, and decoding the common public key certificate and the secret key by using the decoded key data. |
| US08355506B2 |
Digital video recorder anti-skip system
A method for producing scrambled content (FIG. 6A), the method including providing content (600) to be scrambled, identifying a first portion of the content (620), identifying a second portion of the content (630), computing a disguising function of at least part of the first portion (620) of the content and producing a result, and scrambling the second portion (630) of the content, the scrambling being based in part, on the result. Related apparatus and methods are also described. |
| US08355504B2 |
AV communication control circuit for realizing copyright protection with respect to radio LAN
An AV communication control circuit suitable for a radio LAN-LSI in a radio AV transmission/reception device is formed by a copyright protection processing unit configured to carry out a copyright protection processing with respect to AV data entered from an AV stream signal line, a selection unit configured to select either one of AV data entered from an AV stream signal line through the copyright protection processing unit and AV data entered from a general purpose bus, and a transmission control unit configured to carry out control for transmitting AV data selected by the selection unit to a network. |
| US08355502B1 |
Evolved circuits for bitstream protection
A security circuit for a reprogrammable logic IC includes an evolved circuit that ties the performance of the security circuit to the physical properties of that particular reprogrammable logic IC. The security circuit can be a decryption and/or encryption circuit that decrypts and/or encrypts, respectively, a configuration bitstream for the IC. Because of the link between the performance of the security circuit and the physical properties of the IC, the security circuit cannot be used in other ICs. For example, an encrypted bitstream that can be decrypted by the security circuit in a first IC will typically not be decrypted by the same security circuit in a second IC, since the physical properties of the two ICs will typically be different. The evolved circuit can comprise a portion of the security circuit, such as a security key generator, or it can comprise the full security circuit. |
| US08355500B2 |
Device and a method for performing a cryptographic function
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for encrypting and decrypting digital information while imparting a high level of security on the encrypted digital information. A mixed-mode digital-analogue encryption and decryption technique is proposed, which minimizes the probability of an unintended recipient of the thus encrypted information being able to decrypt the information using known reverse engineering techniques. |
| US08355499B2 |
Parallel encryption/decryption
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for parallel encryption/decryption. In one or more embodiments, an encryption/decryption device includes an input logic circuit, an output logic circuit, and a number of encryption/decryption circuits arranged in parallel between the input logic circuit and the output logic circuit. For example, each encryption/decryption circuit can be capable of processing data at an encryption/decryption rate, and the number of encryption/decryption circuits can be equal to or greater than an interface throughput rate divided by the encryption/decryption rate. |
| US08355496B2 |
Call management interfaces
Systems, methods and computer program products for generating and displaying various user interfaces for configuring one or more call handling rules associated with managing virtual PBX services rendered at an extension are described. The user interfaces can be used to configure virtual PBX services for a single- or multi-extension environment. The virtual PBX services can provide, for example, a main number, and calls made to the main number can be managed according to one or more sets of call handling rules associated with the virtual PBX services and which can be configured through the user interfaces. The user interfaces can be web-based interfaces accessible through a browser, and can be accessed only after a user or administrator has setup and activated the virtual PBX services. |
| US08355495B2 |
Multi vendor NPAC administration peering
An architecture and accompanying method and apparatus for providing multi vendor administration of telephone numbers being ported from one service provider to another. |
| US08355491B1 |
Intelligent do not disturb rule
Methods and apparatus for allowing parties to temporarily and automatically bypass an established “do not disturb” (DND) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes applying a DND with respect to a telephone apparatus associated with a telephone number for a first party, and obtaining a first indication of a first new attempt by the first party to establish contact with a second party. The method also includes maintaining a second indication which indicates that a first attempted call from the second party to the telephone number is a response to the first new attempt. It is determined if the first attempted call from second party to establish contact with the first party occurs. If the first attempted call is made, the method includes routing the first attempted call from the second party to the telephone apparatus such that the DND is effectively bypassed. |
| US08355488B2 |
Method and system for determining authorization levels in a virtual private network (VPN)
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to determine authorization levels in a virtual private network are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes determining whether a call originated from an originating station associated with a virtual private network, the call originating via a private branch exchange associated with the virtual private network by a first user of a plurality of users associated with the virtual private network, querying a private-number table based on at least one of a switch identifier representing a service switching point, a trunk group identifier representing the private branch exchange, or an originating station identifier representing the originating station to obtain a private number assigned to the first user, and providing an authorization level associated with the private number to the service switching point, the service switching point to process the call according to the authorization level. |
| US08355486B2 |
System and method for inbound call billing
A system and method for billing an incoming communication. A code is received from a calling party during the incoming communication. Expenses of the incoming communication are allocated to an account of the calling party in response to receiving the code. An invoice is generated for the calling party and a receiving party specifying the expenses. |
| US08355482B2 |
Radiotherapy apparatus
It is desirable to achieve a co-incident investigative kV source for a therapeutic MV source—a so-called “beams-eye-view” source. It has been suggested that bremsstrahlung radiation from an electron window be employed; we propose a practical structure for achieving this which can switch easily between a therapeutic beam and a beam-eye-view diagnostic beam capable of offering good image resolution. Such a radiation source comprises an electron gun, a pair of targets locatable in the path of a beam produced by the electron gun, one target of the pair being of a material with a lower atomic number than the other, and an electron absorber insertable into and withdrawable from the path of the beam. In a preferred form, the electron gun is within a vacuum chamber, and the pair of targets are located at a boundary of the vacuum chamber. The lower atomic number target can be Nickel and the higher atomic number target Copper and/or Tungsten. The electron absorber can be Carbon, and can be located within the primary collimator, or within one of a plurality of primary collimators interchangeably locatable in the path of the beam. Such a radiation source can be included within a radiotherapy apparatus, to which the present invention further relates. A flat panel imaging device for this source can be optimised for low energy x-rays rather than high energy; Caesium Iodide-based panels are therefore suitable. |
| US08355481B2 |
Pressure vessel sliding support unit and system using the sliding support unit
Provided is a sliding support and a system using the sliding support unit. The sliding support unit may include a fulcrum capture configured to attach to a support flange, a fulcrum support configured to attach to the fulcrum capture, and a baseplate block configured to support the fulcrum support. The system using the sliding support unit may include a pressure vessel, a pedestal bracket, and a plurality of sliding support units. |
| US08355477B1 |
Multi-lane communication with measurable latency
Methods and structures are provided for multi-lane data communication with measurable latency. In a particular embodiment, part of a parallel data set is transmitted from a first device to a second device on a plurality of slave lanes and another part of the data set is transmitted from the first device to the second device on a master lane. A known master delay is applied to data in the master lane that is greater than or equal to the known maximum skew between the lanes. The slave lanes are delayed as needed to align their data with the master lane. In one embodiment, part of the known master lane delay is applied on the first device and another part is applied on the second device. In another embodiment, all of the known master lane delay is applied on the first device and none of it is applied on the second device. In another embodiment, all of the known master lane delay is applied on the second device and none of it is applied on the first device. In another embodiment, part or all of the master lane delay is applied on the link between devices. |
| US08355467B2 |
Amplitude probability distribution measurement apparatus
There is disclosed a general-purpose APD measurement apparatus capable of changing a measurement condition, such as the number of channels or a resolution bandwidth (RBW) in compliance with a standard for the subject of measurement, measuring various subjects of measurement, and correcting measurement equipment, thereby enabling a higher accuracy of measurement. The resolution bandwidth (RBW) or the number of channels when measurement is performed can be flexibly changed by controlling the cycle of a clock signal whose data are sampled by A/D conversion means 110, frequency selection means 130, and an APD unit 300. The frequency selection means 130 includes FFT type processing means 131 and filter bank type processing means 132 arranged in parallel. The output of FFT type processing means 131 is corrected based on the output of the filter bank type processing means 132 with a high accuracy of measurement. Accordingly, a higher accuracy of measurement is made possible. |
| US08355464B2 |
Method for generating and transmitting downlink frame
A downlink frame generation device arrange a plurality of synchronization channel symbols and a plurality of broad-casting channel symbols in a common bandwidth of a system so that the symbols may neighbor each other on the time axis. The downlink frame generation device applies a precoding vector to the synchronization channel symbols and the broadcasting channel symbols to generate a plurality of downlink frames corresponding to a plurality of antennas. The precoding vector is variable by a sector for transmitting a plurality of downlink frames and a subframe in which a plurality of synchronization channel symbols are positioned. The precoding vector is independent of an index of a subcarrier. |
| US08355461B2 |
Method and device for the noise shaping of a transmission signal
A description is given of a device and a method for the noise shaping of a transmission signal such as are employed, for example, in a data transmission system. |
| US08355460B2 |
Radio transmitter system and method
A radio transmitter system responsive to a binary signal drives a narrow bandwidth VLF or LF antenna. A generator derives a first variable frequency wave frequency coded based on bit values of a binary signal. An arbitrary impulse response signal processor responsive to the first wave derives a first output signal having real and imaginary components representing the shape of a modulating wave having a variable amplitude envelope and the frequency of the coded values. A transmitter responsive to the processor output signal and a VLF or LF carrier supplies the antenna with another output signal including a modulation wave having a shape that is a substantial replica of the modulating wave shape. The processor causes the signal emitted by the antenna system to include modulation having a shape that is substantially the shape of the first wave. |
| US08355459B2 |
Method for transmitting and estimating symbols coded with a coding matrix, and corresponding receiver and transmitter
An embodiment of a method for transmitting a sequence of symbols through at least a channel in a wireless communication system includes: forming a coding matrix with the sequence of symbols, each component of the coding matrix being a linear combination of two symbols among a first, a second, a third, and a fourth symbol (s1, s2, s3 , s4), transmitting a first component and a second component of a first column and of a second column of the coding matrix through a first transmit antenna and a second transmit antenna at a first and a second time slot wherein the coding matrix is defined as ( as 1 + bs 3 - cs 2 * - ds 4 * as 2 + bs 4 cs 1 * + ds 3 * ) , a, b, c, d being complex numbers of modulus 1. |
| US08355458B2 |
Apparatus, systems, methods and computer program products for producing a single frequency network for ATSC mobile / handheld services
Producing coherent symbols from a plurality of digital RF transmitters is achieved by selecting data bytes corresponding to mobile-handheld encapsulation (MHE) packets and setting trellis coders to a predetermined state when a predetermined number of bits of the data bytes enter a corresponding trellis coder. |
| US08355456B2 |
Transmitting device, receiving device, and signal processing method in radio communication system
A signal frequency of an interface signal between a baseband unit and a remote radio unit is decreased by downsampling, and the strain of the signal caused by downsampling is compensated for each subcarrier before an IFFT during transmission, and after FFT during reception. |
| US08355454B2 |
Reception device, reception method and integrated circuit
A reception device for receiving an OFDM signal whose level is maintained constant by performing an AGC control which adjusts an amplification gain by means of a discrete gain value includes an equalization section operable to execute an equalization process of detecting, respectively, distortions of a plurality of reference subcarriers regularly included in the OFDM signal on which the fast Fourier transform has been performed, and of estimating, by means of an interpolation using the detected distortions, a distortion of the OFDM signal, which distortion is caused by transmission path propagation so as to correct the estimated distortion of the OFDM signal, and the equalization section corrects, by using the AGC control signal, an estimated error of the distortion of the OFDM signal, which distortion is caused by a discrete amplification gain variation of the OFDM signal. |
| US08355453B2 |
UWB transmitter
An ultra-wideband (UWB) dual impulse transmitter is made up of a trigger edge selection circuit actuated by a single trigger input pulse; a first step recovery diode (SRD) based pulser connected to the trigger edge selection circuit to generate a first impulse output; and a second step recovery diode (SRD) based pulser connected to the trigger edge selection circuit in parallel to the first pulser to generate a second impulse output having a selected delay from the first impulse output. |
| US08355449B2 |
System and method for intra refresh implementation with pseudo random number generation
The present invention includes a method and system for encoding video data by accessing a picture to be encoded, wherein the picture comprises a plurality of macro-blocks. A plurality of programmable counters are associated with each macro-block to be encoded. A counter associated with a macro-block of the plurality of macro-blocks is accessed and a value of the counter is determined. The method further includes determining whether to encode the macro-block as an Intra or non-Intra based on the value of the counter. If the macro-block is encoded as Intra, its counter is reset. If the macro-block is encoded as non-Intra, its counter value is updated. The counter value may be reset with a random number. Counters can be programmed such that a region of interest is defined for updating associated macro-blocks with greater frequency. |
| US08355444B2 |
Encoding of a plurality of information signals using a joint computing power
A device for encoding a plurality of information signals using a joint computing power includes a plurality of encoders for encoding a respectively different one of the information signals using the joint computing power, wherein each encoder is controllable via at least one respective encoding parameter with regard to its encoding complexity/encoding distortion performance. A provider for providing, for each of the encoders, signal-dependent information dependent on the respective information signal and indicating an encoding distortion of the respective encoder, and a setter for setting the encoding parameters depending on the signal-dependent information considering the joint computing power such that a combination of encoding complexities of the encoders does not exceed a value dependent on the joint computing power are also provided, wherein the setter for setting and the plurality of encoders cooperates such that, with regard to subsequent time intervals, a distribution of the joint computing power depends on the encoding parameters or an encoding complexity of the individual encoders. |
| US08355440B2 |
Motion search module with horizontal compression preprocessing and methods for use therewith
A motion compensation module, that can be used in a video encoder for encoding a video input signal, includes a motion search module that generates a motion search motion vector for each motion search macroblock of a plurality of motion search macroblocks in at least one of a horizontally compressed and vertically uncompressed field of the video input signal and a horizontally compressed and vertically uncompressed frame of the video input signal. A motion refinement module generates a refined motion vector for each motion refinement macroblock of a plurality of macroblocks of at least one of an uncompressed field of the video input signal and an uncompressed frame of the video input signal, based on the motion search motion vector. |
| US08355439B2 |
Transcoder and imaging apparatus for converting an encoding system of video signal
The time required to transcode an encoded image signal to an image signal encoded by a different encoding method is reduced.Disclosed herein is a transcoder comprising: picture selector 4 which extracts specific types of pictures (I- and P-pictures) from a first image signal (MPEG2 stream) and generates a subset of the first image signal; a first decoder 5 which decodes the subset image signal; and a first encoder 7 which encodes the decoded image signal to a second image signal (MPEG4 stream). The picture selector 4 uses the extracted pictures to generate the subset image signal with a reduced effective length. |
| US08355432B2 |
Image-processing apparatus and method
An image-processing apparatus is configured to read encoded video data from a recording medium, decode the encoded video data, and re-encode the decoded video data. Further, the image-processing apparatus is configured to record information about a viewing-operation-history relating to the encoded video data and determine a target bit rate of the re-encoding based on the information about the viewing-operation-history. An image-processing method includes reading encoded video data from a recording medium, decoding the encoded video data, detecting information about a viewing-operation history relating to the encoded video data, re-encoding decoded video data obtained at the decoding step, and determining a target bit rate of the re-encoding performed at the encoding step based on the information about the viewing-operation-history. |
| US08355431B2 |
Decision feedback equalizer having clock recovery circuit and method for recovering clock
A Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) capable of preventing incremental increases of a jitter of a recovered clock and reduction of a voltage margin of decided data due to delay of feedback data. The DFE includes a combiner for combining received data with feedback data and outputting the combined data as equalization data, a decision circuit for deciding recovery data by receiving the equalization data, a feedback loop for supplying the recovery data to the combiner as feedback data and a clock recovery circuit for removing a delay data component from the equalization data through the feedback loop, recovering a clock with respect to the other equalization data except the delay data component and supplying the recovered clock for decision operation of the decision circuit. |
| US08355428B2 |
Data receiving device
A data receiving device, for receiving digital data via a differential signal transmission path made up of two or more channels including one channel of a reference clock, includes a digital data receiver configured to receive various data channel signals transmitted from the transmitter side to the differential signal transmission path, a reference clock receiver configured to receive a reference clock transmitted from the transmitter side to the differential signal transmission path, and a transmission loss rate determining unit configured to determine between degree of magnitudes of transmission loss with the reference clock, based on waveform deterioration resulting from the reference clock receiving at the reference clock receiving unit having passed through the differential signal transmission path. |
| US08355427B2 |
System and method for descrambling the phase of carriers in a multicarrier communications system
A system and method that demodulates the phase characteristic of a carrier signal are described. The scrambling of the phase characteristic of each carrier signal includes associating a value with each carrier signal and computing a phase shift for each carrier signal based on the value associated with that carrier signal. The value is determined independently of any input bit value carried by that carrier signal. The phase shift computed for each carrier signal is combined with the phase characteristic of that carrier signal so as to substantially scramble the phase characteristic of the carrier signals. Bits of an input signal are modulated onto the carrier signals having the substantially scrambled phase characteristic to produce a transmission signal with a reduced PAR. |
| US08355425B2 |
UWB receiver and a data transmission method and system
The present invention relates to an ultra-wideband signal receiver comprising: at least a first set of sampling cells for sampling the waveform of a received signal; at least a second set of sampling cells for sampling the waveform of the received signal, with a predefined delay δ; and at least one correlator for delivering information depending on the correlation between the waveforms thus sampled. |